Asalaamu alaikum Dear Friends

That time of year is back again as Muslim’s all around the world are enthusiastic for this blessed month. Welcome our Guest Oh Ramadhaan! The excitement had settled in last night when My-Man Mohammed came home from Magrib Salaah grabbed my hand as he escorted me out of our home in search of the Ramadhaan new moon. A Sunnah Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) did every year & I actually got to see it this year, the crescent of the new moon was so visible in the radiant pinkish sky. It was so charming SubhanAllah! Finally Day 1 Ramadhaan 1438 A.H. So thankful for another year, another chance, lets do this 😉

I have learned that how one spends Ramadhaan is the way the coming year will be spent in that persons life. Making A’mal on those little things we might regard as small deeds is really the most beloved in the sight of Allah SWT & during Ramadhaan your rewards are multiplied, its a bargain actually. If one practices a deed sincerely & consistently in this month than that will be how the rest of the year will follow, of course with the help of Almighty Allah SWT.

Set goals, set times & focus towards achieving those goals! Make minutes count! Make this Ramadhaan be the best in your life, we will never know if we will be around to see the next. I heard this fantastic example the other day & I just have to share it. So picture this: its raining outside but not raindrops, its raining $$$ signs-Money Galore everywhere! Do you think you & every one else will be just sitting back & doing nothing  while watching the rain of money fall from the sky without making any effort to grab or benefit from it? That is exactly how the Infinite Mercy of Allah SWT descends in this beloved month. Alhamdulilah!

The one time in the year we sacrifice those inner desires that we chase after continuously time after time when there are people out there less fortunate than we are. We start by freeing ourselves from the sins we commit daily & beg for the mercy Allah Ta’alah the Most Forgiving wants to shower upon us. We need to strive for the next 30 days in obedience to HIM as honest, pure & true slaves of Our Master Allah.

Make intentions only for the pleasure of Allah SWT:

• Smile.
• Be Thankful always.
• Greet fellow Muslims first it frees one from pride.
• Read your obligatory prayers on time as soon as the time sets in (for men to go to the Masjid to perform with Jamaat).
• Practice the Sunnah use Miswaak…
• Seek knowledge by listening to islamic lectures & reading islamic books (sublime conduct of Nabi SAW, Seerah of Nabi SAW, Yasmin Mogahed series, Sister Rehana Sha Bulbulia series…)
• Feed the fasting.
• Give Charity.
• Family gathering in the home.
• Limit unnecessary socializing.
• Lower ones gaze to the opposite gender.
• Talk politely! Do not become angry!
• Time Manage your actions & increase your ibaadah more than usual example: Nafl Salaahs, reading Tahajud prayer, making Dhikr, Tasbeehat, time for Dua-talk to Allah SWT alone, Tilaawah of the Quraan etc.
• Do not over eat at iftaar (eat less oily & fattening foods).
• Rest in the afternoon for siesta to be energetic for Taraweeh Salaah at nights.

“The month of the Quraan” (I can just hear that Zain Bikha nasheed play in my head every time I say that line), in actual fact why everything revolves around the Quraan in this awesome month is because the Quraan was revealed in Ramadhaan. Sent down from Jannah in total book form & then placed on the first heaven in a “Protective Tablet”. It  was only than Almighty Allah would command Angel Jibraeel AS to take certain verses from the Quraan & reveal it to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) according to the relevant situation at a certain time to guide him the Last Messenger of Allah SAW & His people to the right path. A period of 23 years of revelation & till today it is the most authentic guidance in all stages of an Ummati’s life.

Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) how we wish He was here today and He is! Nabi SAW is alive in his Qabr & in the heart of every believer. His sunnah is the rope that leads us to Allah & will live on forever. A nobleman, trustworthy was his nature & he was known for it, called by many as “Al-Amin” (truthful). A a pure, kind hearted & innocent man with not a speck of evil in his heart, sinless He was! Even before Nabuwat. A beautiful being in character & most perfect of man on the outside as well.

The youngest wife of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) Hazrat Ayesha RA said, “In the time Prophet Yusuf AS the woman would cut their fingers while working when they saw Yusuf AS pass by (He was absolutely drop dead gorgeous) but if they had seen MY MOHAMMED they would have cut out their hearts!”.~ Just imagine!

It is related from Hazrat Jabir RA that he said: “I once saw the messenger of Allah (Mohammed peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the night of a full moon. At times I looked at the full moon and at times at the messenger of Allah. Ultimately I came to the conclusion that the messenger of Allah was more handsome, beautiful and more radiant than the full moon”.~

Hazrat Abu Hurairah RA says: “The Prophet of Allah (Mohammed peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was so clean, clear, beautiful and handsome, as though his body was covered and moulded in silver. His hair was slightly curled.”~

Just a little recap about the life of the Last Prophet of Allah SAW, He lost his Father Abdullah before his birth & His Mother Amina passed away when He was only 6 years old. Taken in by his Grandfather Abdul Muttalib, He grew up very different to anyone who lived in Makkah during that era. With all the hardship Makkah was facing at that time, He would find peace & solidarity in a cave called “Hira” at the peak of  Mount “Jabal-e-Noor”. His escape, a place to contemplate about life, the Makan people, all the evils of corruption happening around him, people who were living without any direction or consequences to their evil actions…

Until one night a bright light appeared in the cave, like an unusual being with a voice ordering to him, “READ!” . He was trembling with fear & since he was orphaned at such a young age He was unlettered, yet Prophet Mohammed SAW is the wisest man to ever be born. Blessed with an extraordinary wisdom by Allah SWT. Things that Prophet Mohammed SAW taught us 1400 years ago scientist are only discovering now. He was afraid! Wouldn’t you too be if you were sitting all alone & you saw an Angel appear???

Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was 40 years at that time when the first verse revealed was “Iqra Bismi Rabikal lathi Ghalaq” meaning, “Read! In the name of your Lord”. The Miracle of the Quraan was revealed & Islam was born. Notice the Great Wisdom of Allah SWT as the first word said to Prophet Mohammed was “READ!”. Allah could have made the first words a command but HE didn’t & that already teaches us seeking knowledge in life is to read!

All the answers we need in life are right in front of us. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said, ” Two things I leave you with you is: The Quraan & my Sunnah.” Follow these two and you will be rightly guided in life. Remember we all want success in this world & the next…start today! Now lets do it! Positivity is a trait of a Mu’min. The Gates of Paradise Jannah are open for us & the gates of Hell Fire are closed. Shaytaan is locked away & we have only our own desires to control. May Allah SWT grant the Ummah around the world a blessed Ramadhaan & accept all our efforts Ameen.

Today’s recipe that I share is not a suhoor booster, nor an iftaar savory  & definitely not an after Taraweeh sweet treat but rather a spiritual one:

Recipe for the 30 days of Ramadhaan:

Day 1-10:  Ask for the Mercy of Allah SWT

Day 10- 20: Ask for the Forgiveness of Allah SWT

Day 20-30: Ask for Freedom from the Fire of Jahannum

Reference: Ummah Heart Madressah