Al-Huda
Foundation, NJ U. S. A
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Newsletter for July 2011
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Ramadhan
Assalamu Alaykum,Al-hamdulillah (praise be to Allâh), blessed month of Ramadhân 1432 AH is here - a time for worship, introspection, reflection, self-improvement, compassion, generosity - a time for us to seek closeness to Allah SWT. The whole Muslim ummah (community) has waited for a year to experience the blessings of this Ramadhân.
Let us not forget millions of people around the world who are faced with serious hardships resulting from natural or man-made disasters in various parts of the world. Some of us are frail due to illness or old-age and may not even see another Ramadhân. The young among us are gifted with the opportunity to seek closeness to Allâh. We are grateful to Allâh for blessings and bounties of another Ramadhan which enables us to seek His forgiveness and spend some of the most cherished moments in His Divine Presence.
Let us seek Allâh's guidance to enter with the correct spirit and a commitment to move closer to Allâh swt.
Let us pledge ourselves here today to remove the cause of bad blood between us and our nearest and rid ourselves of any form of behavior which hurts others;
Let us strive instead to don the noble qualities of conduct so beautifully exemplified by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s)
Let every action that flows from us be steeped in kindness and helpfulness;
Let our hearts reach out to our less fortunate brothers and sisters wherever they may be and ask Allâh to remove their suffering and hardship and grant them victory over their oppressors;
Let us pass our quiet moments remembering Allâh through reading Qur'ân.
Let those of us who have parents, bring joy and comfort to their hearts;
And let those who have lost their parents or dear ones, remember them in all their prayers;
O Allâh, strengthen our eimân (faith) and our understanding of the purpose of fasting, accept our fast and all our ibâdaat.
Let us use our time, our money, and all our skills and resources, to strengthen ourselves, our community, our Ummah. In this Holy and Blessed month of Ramadhán, let us re-dedicate ourselves to the divine purpose for which we were placed here on earth. As we say in our daily prayers:
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (6:162)
Say: “Truly, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death is for Alláh, Lord of All the Worlds."
Ramadhân Mubarak.
al-Huda Foundation
Al-Baqarah 183-185
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-
(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.
Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.
O People!
Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah.
A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness.
A month which with Allah is the best of months.
Its days, the best of days, its nights,
the best of nights, and its hours, the best of hours.
It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah
and invites you to be one of those near to Him.
Each breath you take glorifies him;
your sleep is worship,
your deeds are accepted
and your supplications are answered.
So, ask Allah, your Lord;
to give you a sound body
and an enlightened heart
so you may be able to fast and recite his book,
for only he is unhappy who is devoid
of Allah's forgiveness during this great month.
Remember the hunger and thirst of the day of Qiyamah (Judgement)
with your hunger and thirst;
give alms to the needy and poor,
honor your old,
show kindness to the young ones,
maintain relations with your blood relations;
guard your tongues,
close your eyes to that which is not permissible for your sight,
close your ears to that which is forbidden to hear,
show compassion to the orphans of people
so compassion may be shown to your orphans.
Repent to Allah for your sins
and raise your hands in dua during these times,
for they are the best of times and
Allah looks towards his creatures with kindness,
replying to them during the hours
and granting their needs if he is asked...
O People! Indeed your souls are
dependant on your deeds, free it with Istighfar (repentance)
lighten its loads by long prostrations;
and know that Allah swears by his might:
That there is no punishment for the one who
prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the
day when man stands before the Lord of the worlds.
O People! One who gives Iftaar to a
fasting person during this month will be like one who has freed
someone and his past sins will be forgiven.
Some of the people who were there then asked
the Prophet (s): "Not all of us are able to
invite those who are fasting?"
The Prophet (s) replied: "Allah gives
this reward even if the Iftaar (meal) is a drink of water."
One who has good morals (Akhlaq)
during this month will be able to pass the
‘Siraat’...on the day that feet will slip...
One who covers the faults of others
will benefit in that Allah will curb
His anger on the day of Judgment...
As for one who honors an orphan;
Allah will honor him on the day of judgment,
And for the one who spreads his kindness,
Allah will spread His mercy over him on the day of Judgment.
As for the one who cuts the ties of relation;
Allah will cut His mercy from him...
Who so ever performs a recommended prayer in this month
Allah will keep the fire of Hell away from him...
Whoever performs an obligator prayer
Allah will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.
And who so ever prays a lot during this month
will have his load lightened on the day of measure.
He who recites one verse of the holy Quran
will be given the rewards of reciting the whole Qur’an during other months.
O People!
Indeed during this month
the doors of heaven are open,
therefore ask Allah not to close them for you;
The doors of hell are closed,
so ask Allah to keep them closed for you.
During this month Shaytan (Satan) is imprisoned
so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you."
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Courtesy: Jawad Khaki
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