An analogy between the days of Ramadan and our life

We start the fast in the morning strong. By noon we start to get weaker. By the afternoon, we really begin to feel the fast. By sunset, right before we break it, things get difficult. Our lives mirror this. We start our lives strong as youth until we reach noon time, our 30’s and 40’s, we start to get weak. Once we reach old age (Asr and Maghrib) our physical abilities are greatly reduced until we leave this life. Fasting shouts to us our own mortality. Or own truth, “You are heading back to Allah." It is a reminder of our life, our responsibilities and the value of being young and physically capable. And just as we avoid some delicacies in the day, only to enjoy them later, if we spend our lives fasting from things that God has prohibited we will break our fast with Paradise!

Righteous people used to say, “I fasted from what God commanded and I hope to break my fast on Paradise."
A simple, but powerful, lesson for us all, as we toil through the day. May Allah make this fast a means of spiritual and social awakening.

-- Imam Suhaib Webb

When you enter into Salah turn off your cell phone

When you enter into Salah turn off your cell phone. There isn't anyone who can call that is more important than the one you're about to speak to.

The Ranks of Angels

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) once said to his Companions: “Would you like to stand in rank just the same as the angels stand in rank before their Lord?”

The Companions asked: “How do the angels stand in rank?”

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) replied: “They fill the first rank and they observe extreme care in standing in the rank.” [Muslim, Salaat]

The proper way to stand in rank during congregational prayers is to:

1. Stand shoulder to shoulder.

2. Leave no gaps in between.

3. Complete one rank before forming another.

4. If another Muslim tries to move you to fix your position, take it positively.

5. Don’t stand apart from the ranks of the worshippers to pray separately.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1889

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Do not abuse anyone. Do not look down upon any good work, and when you speak to your brother, show him a cheerful face.”

-- Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1889

Feel Ashamed

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

“If somebody reproaches you and makes you feel ashamed of any of your defects, do not make him feel ashamed of any of his defects.” 

[Abu Daud]

Usually, when somebody points out one of our shortcomings, we immediately become defensive and start finding faults with them. But the advice of our beloved Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), is that we should listen quietly and evaluate what we are being told. If there is something we can improve about ourselves, it is only to our own advantage to do so. If the criticism is unjustified, then we are rewarded for our patience and good behaviour in not retaliating. The angels will take care of defending our honour. Starting a counter attack opens the door for Shaytaan to come in and take over.

The Month of Blessings

'In His Infinite Mercy, Allah Has Sent The Light Of Ramadhan To Erase The Past. He Has Sent The Month Of The Qur’an So That He Might Elevate Us And Bring Us From Our Isolation To His Nearness. He Has Given Us This Blessed Month To Fill Our Emptiness, Cure Our Loneliness, And End Our Soul’s Poverty.'

HAMAD BARI TALHA