Inspired Ramadan Daily Reminder (3)
Inspired Ramadan Daily Reminder (1)
No Distance!
There is no real distance between you and Him ﷻ in order for you to journey to Him. And the connection between you and Him is not cut in order for you to seek to mend it. Allah ﷻ says:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
(O Prophet), if My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I respond to those who call Me, so let them respond to Me, and believe in Me, so that they may be guided [Al Qur’an 2:186]
Capacity Building Workshop
A productive workshop on the obligation of Da’wah and the characteristics of Du’aat (those who carry out Da’wah) in light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our beloved prophet SAWS.
Key takeaways 🔑
– Da’wah is an obligation upon all Muslims, and each person will be held accountable in accordance with their ability.
– Du’aat needs to draw upon the Sunnah of the prophet SAWS for inspiration and guidance upon this noble path.
Consciousness and awareness of Allah is the fuel for self betterment and subsequently reform in society.
Watch some clips of workshop: https://youtu.be/-CAI9mzN4Ko?si=R0FGxtkfBsJKSn3B
1-Shahada لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله
What is the Shahada?
The Shahada (لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله) is the Arabic term for the declaration of faith in one God (Allah) and His messenger.
What does the Shahada mean?
Transliteration: “Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulu-Allah.”
Translation: “I bear witness that there is no God but God (Allah – i.e. there is none worthy of worship but Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
It is the most sacred statement in Islam, and must be recited with full understanding and mindfulness of it’s meaning.
Why is the Shahada important?
The belief in one Allah is the central tenet of the Islamic faith, around which all else revolves. Muslims are continuously reminded of this foundational belief, in the recital of the Shahada (shahadah) during each of the five daily prayers, as well as many more pivotal moments of a Muslim’s life.
The second part of the Shahada requires Muslims to acknowledge and testify to the belief in the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as Allah’s messenger. This serves as a reminder to Muslims of the importance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), but also as a reminder to never associate partners with Allah, for He is just a messenger, and Allah remains one God alone.
Five facts about the Shahada
1: One of the 5 pillars
The Shahadah is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a sacred testament given for Muslims to uphold throughout their lifetime and embody in all of their actions and intentions.
2: Recitation in the Athan
The Shahadah is recited in the Athan (call to prayer).
3: Recitation during Salah
Muslims recite the Shahadah once or twice in their Salah, which they are obliged to do during five different times of the day.
4: Acceptance of Islam
When someone wishes to convert to Islam as their religion, reciting the Shahadah marks their entrance into Islam and their life as a Muslim.
5: Recitation to newborns
The Shahadah is spoken as the first words a Muslim baby hears upon entering the world as part of the adhan, and Muslims strive for the Shahadah to be their last words upon their death.
MUHARRAM 2024: A WHOLE WEEK OF FASTING
Increase your fasting during the month of Muharram.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ”The best fasting after Ramadan is Allah’s sacred month (Muharram)”
Monday 15th July: Tāsū’ā’ “the ninth of Muharram”
Tuesday 16th July: Aashura “the tenth of Muharram”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(Fasting on the day of Ashura, I hope that Allah will atone the year that came before it). He ﷺ said, “If I live until the next year, I will fast on the ninth.”
Wednesday 17th July: The eleventh of Muharram.
Fasting this day with Tāsū’ā’ and Aashura completes the highest level of Aashura’s fasting.
Thursday 18th July: It is Sunnah to fast on Thursdays.
Friday 19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July: will be the 13th, 14th and 15th days of Muharram known as the white days on which it is Sunnah to fast.
تقبل الله منا و منكم
— INSPIRED FOUNDATION ⛵
Branches of faith: Maintaining ties of kinship (P1)
Ties of kinship refers to a person’s bond with his paternal and maternal relatives. Maintaining kinship implies being righteous and kind toward them in both words and actions, by visiting them, asking after them, and financially supporting the needy amongst them.
In the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) commands the believers with 10 commandments, the 4th of which is maintaining ties of kinship.👇
“Worship Allâh and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, and to kinsfolk, …”[An-Nisâ’: 36]
In a Divine narration حَدِيثٌ قُدْسِيّ (which, from the perspective of its meaning, is from Allah (SWT), and from the perspective of its wording, from the prophet), Our prophet (ﷺ) said:
”قَالَ اللَّهُ أَنَا اللَّهُ وَأَنَا الرَّحْمَنُ خَلَقْتُ الرَّحِمَ وَشَقَقْتُ لَهَا مِنَ اسْمِي فَمَنْ وَصَلَهَا وَصَلْتُهُ وَمَنْ قَطَعَهَا بَتَتُّهُ.”
“Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, said, ‘I am Allah and I am Ar-Rahman (The Merciful): I have created Ar-Rahem (ties of kinship) and derived a name for it from My Name. I maintain connection with he who maintains it, and I shall cut off anyone who severs it.’ [At-Tirmidhi]
Kindness to Parents (Final Part)
BRANCHES OF FAITH
Kindness to Parents (Final Part)
- Aisha RA says regarding Fatima RA (daughter of the prophet) that “If the Prophet (pbuh) entered her home, she would stand for him, take him by the hand, kiss him, and seat him in her place” (Abu Dawud).
- Yet Al-Birr (kindness) is not limited to just kissing the forehead or hands, or even the feet of your parents. Rather, it is to obey them immediately, willingly and happily. It is to do what your parents want before you are even told. Such a child is called البار الموفق and is granted success in all his affairs.
VIRTUES & BENEFITS
- A companion came to the Prophet (pbuh) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! I want to go out and fight (in Jihad) and I have come to ask your advice.” He said: “Do you have a mother?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “Then stay with her (and obey her), for Paradise is beneath her feet.” (An-Nasa’i)
- Our Prophet (pbuh) also said:
مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يُبْسَطَ لَهُ فِي رِزْقِهِ وَيُنْسَأَ لَهُ فِي أَثَرِهِ فَلْيَصِلْ رَحِمَهُ
- Whoever desires an expansion in his sustenance and age, should keep good relations with his kith and kin (Abu Dawud)
O Allah! be merciful to them as they cared for us when we were children
Kindness to Parents (Part 4)
BRANCHES OF FAITH
Kindness to Parents (Part 4)
Birr Al-Waalidayn is a characteristic of the believer (Mu’min). Al-Hasan Al Basri defined it saying, “Al-Birr is to obey the parents in everything that they ask so long as it is not to disobey Allah (SWT). “Uqooq” is to disown your parents, denying them all of your goodness.”
Ad-Daylami collected from Al-Husayn ibn Ali, that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “If Allah knew any smaller than ‘uff’ to be disrespectful to parents, He would have decreed it to be Haram!” In Bukhari, a man came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) – seeking permission to go for Jihad. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked him, “Are your parents alive?” He said, “Yes.” He (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Perform Jihad (in you kind treatment) of them.”
If someone came to you today and offered you a free lunch, what would be your response? No doubt you would smile, speak kindly to and of them, and reserve a special place in your heart for their memory. Why is it then that our parents receive only cold stares, harsh words and bitter treatment and they are who they are in our lives? For twenty or thirty years they fed us, clothed us, washed us, and showered their mercy on our soft skin. Their love for us never dies even if we do, love that goes even beyond us, to our children and even their children.
We all have parents – whether they are with us or not – and many have not understood the their grand position in our lives and their right to be respected and revered.
Kindness to Parents (Part 3)
BRANCHES OF FAITH
Kindness to Parents (Part 3)
- The Aayah (17:23) enjoins that after Allah (ﷻ)’s right, the greatest of all the human rights is the right of parents. Even saying “Uff” which is the lowest form of expressing discomfort and annoyance is explicitly prohibited! Let alone rebuking, disobeying or disrespecting them.
The prophet (ﷺ) said:
“الْعَبْدَ الْمُطِيعَ لِوَالِدَيْهِ، وَالْمُطِيعَ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ،فِي أَعَلَى عِلِّيِّينَ” (مسند الفردوس، الديلمي)
“The servant of God who is obedient to his parents and also obedient to the lord of the universe is in the highest of highs (in paradise).
- The collective morality of society should make it incumbent on children to be grateful and respectful to their parents and should ensure that parents are continuously served and honoured by them throughout their lives.