Laylatul Qadr - A night which is better than a thousand months

 Laylatul Qadr

So valuable is this Night of Qadr that the Quran devotes a special surah to
it “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months” [97:3]

Reason of Revelation

The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) told the companions about a man of the previous nations; a man who lived and fought jihad and worshipped Allah (S.W.T.) for over 1000 months (roughly 83 years, 4 months).

The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) was shown the average age of previous nations and he was shown the average age of his nation, he noticed that his ummah had the shortest lifespan (60-70 years), he was afraid that his ummah would not have enough time to do good deads like the previous nations.Thus, Allah (S.W.T.) gifted him and his ummah with Laylatul Qadr, which is not equavalent to the worship of 1000 months of the man of the previous nation, infact, it is BETTER  than thosse 1000 months.

Translation of Surah Al-Qadr

This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights. The most authentic account of the occurrence of the Night indicates that it can occur on any one of the last ten days of Ramadan.

According to few accounts it is believed to be on one of the odd numbered nights of Ramadan, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, while most people believe it to be on the 27th, there's no guarantee or confirmation regarding that.

We should target and strive to stay up and make abundent supplications through out the last 10 days of Ramadan if we want to make sure we don't miss the Night of Power. 

The main Dua for Laylatul Qadr is the following:

Aisha (Ra) said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' “

"Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee" (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

 

• Subhan'Allah very informative lecture - The Night of your Life : Tafseer of Surah Al-Qadr by Sheikh Omar Suleiman -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oam2qJz0y8

Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us

“Hasbunallahu wa ni`mal Wakil’:
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).”                                 آل عمران‎ : Surah Al ‘Imran (3:173)

Such a powerful ayah, it was recited by the prophets (P.B.U.H.) in the time of distress. This single verse very simply and strongly defines our submission to the Almighty with an unconditional trust in his doing.

Narrated Ibn Abbas:

'Allah is Sufficient for us and He Is the Best Disposer of affairs," was said by Abraham when he was thrown into the fire; and it was said by Muhammad when they (i.e. hypocrites) said, "A great army is gathering against you, therefore, fear them," but it only increased their faith and they said: "Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer (of affairs, for us)." (3.173)
[Bukhari]

Benefits of performing Wadu

Wudu doesn't just purify and cleanse our body and soul for worship but also washes away minor sins! SubhanAllah.. Every small act towards Allah is bestowed with immense mercy.

Reported by Abu Hurairah (RA): Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "When a Muslim or a believer washes his face (in the course of Wudu'), every sin he has committed with his eyes is washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought is erased from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet walked is washed away with water, or with the last drop of water, with the result that he comes out cleansed of all sins". [Muslim]

Zakat al-Fitr

Zakat al Fitr Zakat al Fitr is an obligatory charity on every muslim at the end of the month of ramadan. Ibn 'Umar said: "the prophet (p.b.u.h.) enjoined the payment of one sa'a of dates or one sa'a of barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave." (Bukhari and Muslim)

 The purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to purify the one who has fasted from any type of indecent act or speech he might have committed while fasting. it also helps the poor and the needy.
Ibn abbas said: "the messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) enjoined Zakat al-Fitr on the one who fasts to shield him from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy." (Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah.) 

The amount of Zakat al-Fitr As the first Hadith indicated, the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is one Sa'a.

Sa'a is a volume measure corresponding approximately to the volume of 5 lb of good wheat.

The material of Zakat can be either dates, barley, wheat, rice, corn or similar items considered as basic foods.

Abu Saeed said: "we used to give for Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of every child, aged person, free man or slave during the lifetime of the messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) one Sa'a of food, or one Sa'a of dried yogurt, or one Sa'a of barley, or one Sa'a of dates, or one Sa'a of raisins." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

 The time for Zakat al-Fitr Zakat al-Fitr has to be paid by the end of Ramadhan.
There are two times to pay akat al-Fitr. Either one or two days before Eid as 'Umar used to do, or the day of Eid before the Eid prayer.

Ibn Umar reported that the prophet (p.b.u.h.) ordered them to pay Zakat al-Fitr before they go out to perform the Eidprayer.
If Zakat al-Fitr is paid after the Eid prayer, it will only be considered as regular charity.
The prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: "if one pays Zakat al-Fitr before the salat, it is considered an accepted Zakat, if he pays it after the salat, it is considered an ordinary charity." (Abu Dawud)

 Zakat al-Fitr is to be given to the same eight categories or people as in the other types of zakat. Some scholars say that the poor and the needy are the most deserving ones since the prophet (p.b.u.h.) said that it had "...the purpose of providing food for the needy." 

THE SUNNAH OF THE DAY OF EID

THE SUNNAH OF THE DAY OF EID -:- EVERY MUSLIM SHOULD OBSERVE:

1 – Doing Ghusl before going out to the Prayer. 
Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar used to do ghusl on the day of Fitr before going to the place of prayer. [Malik :: Book 10 : Hadith 10.1.2]

2 – Eating before going out to pray on Eid al-Fitr: 
Narrated Anas bin Malik,: Allah's Apostle never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of 'Id-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates. Anas also narrated: The Prophet used to eat odd number of dates. [Bukhari :: Book 2 :: Volume 15 :: Hadith 73]
Whoever does not have any dates may eat anything that is permissible. 

3 – Takbeer on the day of Eid The time for takbeer on Eid al-Fitr starts from the night before Eid until the imam enters to lead the Eid prayer.
 It was narrated in a saheeh report that ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulami said, “They (companions) emphasized it more on the day of al-Fitr than the day of al-Adha.”. Wakee’ said, this refers to the takbeer. [See Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 3/122/]
Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated with a saheeh isnaad that al-Zuhri said: The people used to recite Takbeer on Eid when they came out of their houses until they came to the prayer place, and until the imam came out. When the imam came out they fell silent, and when he said takbeer they said takbeer. [See Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1/121]

4 – Offering Congratulations 
It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: When the companions of the Prophet PBUH met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, " تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْك 'Taqabbal Allaahu minna wa mink' '(May Allaah accept (this worship) from us and from you)". [Ibn Hajar said, its isnaad is hasan. Al-Fath, 2/446.]

 5 – Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid.
 Narrated 'Abdullah bin Umar: Umar bought a silk cloak from the market, took it to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Take it and adorn yourself with it during the 'Id and when the delegations visit you." Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) replied, "This dress is for those who have no share (in the Hereafter)." [Bukhari :: Book 2 :: Volume 15 :: Hadith 69]
The Prophet PBUH agreed with ‘Umar on the idea of adorning oneself for Eid, but he denounced him for choosing this cloak because it was made of silk. 

Narrated Naafi: Ibn ‘Umar used to wear his best clothes on Eid. [Sunan Kubra Bayhaqi 6363, Sahih Isnaad]So a man should wear the best clothes that he has when going out for Eid. 

6 – Going to the Prayer by one route and returning by another. 

Narrated Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah RA: "On the day of Eid, the Prophet PBUH would vary his route, i.e., he would go via one route and come back via a different route". [Bukhaari 986]

Laylatul Qadr

Laylatul Qadr

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Verily this month has come to you; and therein is a night which is better than a thousand months. Whosoever is deprived of it is deprived of all good; and none is deprived of its good except a totally unfortunate person.” [Ibn Majah]

... Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is the crowning glory of Ramadhan. Its merit can be judged by the fact that it was the night in which Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) chose to send down the Quran from the Lawh-Mahfudh (Preserved Tablet) to the earthly skies.

“We have indeed revealed this in the Night of Power. And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit (Jibreel) descend in it by Allah's permission, with every command. Peace it is till the debut of dawn!” [Quran: Surah Al-Qadr]

A thousand months are equivalent to 83 years and 4 months. Fortunate is the person who spends this night in prayer and trying to understand the Quran that made this night so special.

The person who spends this night in trying to draw closer to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) through His revelation will be blessed with the reward of having worshipped Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) for at least eighty three years and four months consecutively. Since Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says that the Night of Power is better than one thousand months the reward is even greater than that.

A'meen.

Ramadan - A month of spiritual transition

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Prophet {P.B.U.H} said, "ALLAH said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.

' Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.' By Him in Whose Hands my soul is'

The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk.

There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting."

Sahih Al Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 128

SubhanAllah..!  Fasting is definitely a shield,  it's also a spiritual cleansing process.

I've seen Muslim that smoke, don't offer prayers, use foul language,  can't skip a single meal or snack everyday.. became such ideal Muslims in the holy month of Ramdan. They become patient,  avoid all bad habits and turn to Allah sincerely 5 times a day and also offer the Taraweh prayers with sheer dedication and commitment. 

It's truly amazing to see what we all are capable of,  if only we could maintain this spiritual transition throughout the year.. We'd all be better Muslims!  InshaAllah..  :-) 

Praying in the last third of the night

Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah’s Apostle said, “When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the heaven of the world and says, ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me (demand anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation; Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him; Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?’ “
Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 333

This is why praying Tahajjud has such a big significance at that hour of the night. 

Allah S.W.T. gives us the chance to ask for forgiveness and seek his blessings every night,  we should try to make the most of it and not let go of such opportunities for few minutes of sleep.

Allah expiates sins..

It's usually tough to accept problems and very difficult to be patient through big and small trials and difficulties.. but this hadith definitely makes it easy to trust the Almighty, reinstate our faith in him and accept all the hardships and overcome them.

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that."

Sahih Al Bukhari : book 70, hadith 545

Loving your mother..

A man once consulted the Prophet Muhammad about taking part in a military campaign. The Prophet asked the man if his mother was still living. When told that she was alive, the Prophet said: "(Then) stay with her, for Paradise is at her feet." (Al-Tirmidhi)

MashaAllah everyday is mother's day in Islam.

Hardships..

Being patient.. While going through hardships has such tremendous rewards.

Greeting each other

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said, "The riding person should greet the walking one, and the walking one should greet the sitting one, and the small number of persons should greet the large number of persons."

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said, "The younger person should greet the older one, and the walking person should greet the sitting one, and the small number of persons should greet the large number of persons."

[Sahih Al Bukhari : book 74, hadith 252]

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr:

A man asked the Prophet , "What sort of deeds or (what qualities of) Islam are good?" The Prophet replied, 'To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not Know.

[Sahih Al Bukhari : book 2, hadith 27]

Greeting each other with "Asalaam Alaikum" and responding back with " Walaikum Asalaam" is considered as one of the good deeds of Islam for a Muslim.
The hadith explains who should take the initiative to greet in different situations, remember the first one to greet gets more rewards.

Asalaam Alaikum :-)

The Virtues of Jumu'ah

Rasulullah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: "Friday is the best of days. It was on this day that Hadrat Aadam alayhis salaam was created, it was on this day that he was granted entry into jannah, it was on this day that he was removed from jannah (which became the cause for man's existence in this universe, and which is a great blessing), and the day of resurrection will also take place on this day. " (Sahih Muslim)

Allah Ta'ala has taken an oath of that day. He says in the Quran:"By the sky in which there are constellations .By the promised day (of judgement). By the day that witnesses (Friday), and the day that is witnessed (day of Arafah). "

Reward for good deeds ..

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said, "If any one of you improve (follows strictly) his Islamic religion then his good deeds will be rewarded ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and a bad deed will be recorded as it is."

[ Sahih Al Bukhari : book 2, hadith 40 ]

Is there any judgment system on earth that would reward us 10 to 700 times more for the good deeds we do ? Only Allah S.W.T. can be this merciful and compassionate! 
This hadith definitely encourages us to do more good deeds and seek the Almighty's blessings.

Allah will give shade to seven on the day of judgement

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "Allah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His. 

1. (These seven persons are) a just ruler,

2. A youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah (i.e. worships Allah sincerely from childhood),

3. A man whose heart is attached to the mosques (i.e. to pray the compulsory prayers in the mosque in congregation),

4. Two persons who love each other only for Allah's sake and they meet and part in Allah's cause only,

5. A man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah, 

6. A man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity), and 

7. A person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears."

[Sahih Al Bukhari : Book 11, Hadith 629]

1. Bounties of paradise

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "There is a tree in Paradise (which is so big and huge that) if a rider travels in its shade for one hundred years, he would not be able to cross it."

[ Sahih Al Bukhari : book 54, hadith 474 ]

SubhanAllah ..such a tree can only exist in paradise..!

"Allah is more pleased with the repentance of his slave .."

I was listening to a lecture yesterday, the scholar described the hadith below in an amazing manner that made me realize the importance of repentance and it's over all impact.

Imagine a traveler traveling through a desert in the middle of the day, when it's blazing hot, there are no rest stops through out the isolated journey from source to destination.

In the olden days there were no rest stops on the way to provide the basic necessities such as food and water during long journeys. The traveler had tied up all the basic necessities such to his camel.

The traveler sees a tree/shade in the middle of the journey and stops to get some rest. He takes a nap and wakes up to find that his camel has wandered off with all his food and water with it !
Frantic and desperate the traveler searches here and there because he knows that that the camel is his only means of survival and escape through the desert.

After frantically searching  the traveler finally gives up accepting that his death is imminent now as there are no means of survival.

The dejected traveler comes back to the same resting spot and lays down anticipating death. Since he is understandably hungry, thirsty and highly exhausted he falls asleep.

He then wakes up to find that his camel has come back and is right in front of him ! Imagine the joy, relief and sheer happiness of finding his lost camel especially when he had given all hope of living and had accepted death!

The importance of repentance and reciting Astagfar is brilliantly illustrated with the hadith mentioned below.

Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said, "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert. "
[ Sahih Al Bukhari :book 75 , hadith 321]

According to the HADITH Allah is more pleased with his repenting slave than that traveler who lost and then found his camel in the middle of an isolated desert !!

SubhanAllah..we should all start including the zikr of Astagfar in our daily lives.. and not just recite it with our tongue but feel it and repent for our sins and wrongdoings sincerely. InshaAllah..!

Friday - blessed hour for our prayers to be accepted

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There is a time on Friday at which no Muslim servant would pray and would ask Allah for a thing (that is good) but He would give it to him. Qutaiba pointed with the help of his hand that it (the time) is short.

Sahih Muslim : book 4, chapter 1849

Sharing food..

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said, "The food for two persons is sufficient for three, and the food of three persons is sufficient for four persons."

[Sahih Al Bukhari: book 65, hadith 304 ]

This hadith talks about sharing food with others, and it all depends on our intention of sharing as well.

Real patience

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, "The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity."

[Sahih Al Bukhari : book 23, hadith 389 ]