Virtues of Ramadan - Yasir Qadhi video

This is a really good 9 minute video on the virtues of Ramadan by Shaikh Yasi Qadhi, that I could not put it any better myself. Definitely worth viewing.

Ramadan - Day 6

With the first weekend of Ramadan how best to start it by attending Regents Park Mosque. This Mosque also knows at the London Central Mosque situated off Baker Street, near Regents Park (thus the name) , is amazing. More than the grand size of the Mosque is the feeling when you enter it and perform your Salat in it.

Due to work and Taraweeh starting and thus finishing later than in previous years, have resorted to going to Regents Park on the weekends during Ramadan.


Mind you I have always been quiet perplexed to know where the sisters pray as with such a grand main hall as shown in the picture, the sisters pray hall I have been told is rather minute in comparison. This is not an issue just for Regents Park as it is for all Mosques generally and some do not even have a pray area for sisters. Insha'Allah performing prayer should be open to all one day in Mosques all around Britain and globally.

I have made intention to reading and completeing the Qur'an during the month of Ramadan, starting today. I also want to read an array of Islamic literature over the course of this month and to take this forward for the months that follow Insha'Allah, as feel that its not just the words of the Qur'an that need reciting during Ramadan but also the information that one can acquire and use as knowledge from the passages that one reads is far more important.

I see many people including my dear Father who seek to complete the Qur'an in record time during Ramadan (as if there is a record to be broken (as if to say "lets see if Usain Bolt can beat this"). It is important to note that the month of Ramadan should be used as a means for training ground for the year ahead Insha'Allah. So yes recite as much as the Qur'an as you can but not to the detriment of you completely fulfilling your own desire but for the desire of Allah (swt).

My Ramadan thought for the day:
"Small changes can make a significant impact so start today as you mean to go on"

Ramadan - Day 5

...22 hours and I have survived! Yes the longest day I have ever fasted unintentionally due to the previous days mishaps.

Well rest assured was not going to let that happen again. The day surprisingly went pretty well, did not feel so bad, think the tiredness was put to bed (pardon the punt) with more than the "usual" amount of sleep for Ramadan so that helped.

So what do I do in this mood, I get my gym kit ready to hit the weights after work. My energy levels as expected was at a very low by the time I got to the bench press, so after 20-25 minutes of diddle dawdling on went home to break my fast.

I ended up breaking my fast at home in good time, had the usual and then rested - no more over indulging I said I know where that got me yesterday.

Just as I thought I almost got back on par with the Ramadan timing and bang missed Sehri and woke up at 05:15, so prayed by Fajr, thus giving myself 19 hours of fast to look forward to for the day. As I write this I don't feel so bad, had good sleep and prayed to Allah to keep me in good stead throughout the day.

May need a very good Alarm Clock to get me up or rather trade the one I have with a nice traditional housewife (the modern ones just dont follow the Ronseal approval ("Does what it says on the tin"). Mind you may get a hose pipe drainage if I ever did say that, as there is hadith quoting this...not the hosepipe but the water sprinkling to get one up for Fajr prayers.

Ramadan thought of the day:
"Do not delay as what can be done today, as time is precious, if you do things with the intention of pleasing Allah (swt), blessings will be bestowed upon your task"

Ramadan - Further Reading & Contemplation

During Ramadan there is much time to think about non-worldly matter i.e. mortgage, finance, sports, tv, so this provides much time to read material on Islam and the Qur'an.

I have been reading an article: "The Wrappings of Gratitude - We Seek and See another World", see the link below:

http://khushu.wordpress.com/

This is a very deep thought provoking article, about the dunya (this life as we know it) and akirah (the after life) about true love.

Here are a few quotes from the site which have stayed with me:

"...relationship between husband and wife, the perfect marriage is represented through the perfect marriage of two principles, of Justice represented by the man, and love or compassion represented by the woman. Justice gives love its meaning, and love gives justice its strength"

“O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy”. (Qur’an, Baqarah 2:208).

"...before we are granted a physical paradise we must learn to exist in a spiritual paradise"

“all goodness is from Allah, all evil is from yourselves”

"For to deny pure goodnes, pure love, true love, all of which are the same, would be to deny the Creator of all good, Allah subhanhu wa ta’ala"

"Truth and beauty go hand-in-hand, they are in seperable and intimate companions, one cannot exist without the other"

Ramadan - Day 4

Day 3 was a long long day at the office, thought it will never end. It did not help as it was such a slow and boring day, had very little do to for the majority of the day due to issues with servers.

Also with 3 days of no physical exercise, the body was feeling it, it was weak and can tell that it was craving to be put back together like a jigsaw. I thus made the intention to go to the gym in the evening, after work before Iftaar. With the way I was feeling, had second thoughts and headed straight to the tube to get some sleep!

Yes, I dont usually sleep on the tubes and trains but no stopping me now, Ramadan has put an end to the metro reading (if you call it that - usually its about celebs doing what they shouldn't and the odd international news when and where the editors see fit) and thinking of what can I do on the tube to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and more zzzzzzzzzzzz! Dribbles later (not so much as I had nothing to drink or eat), got home an hour before Iftaar around 18.55. Iftar was at 19.45 today, so had a light kip on my bed until I smelt the samosas and all the noise of the crockery ready for the break of fast, so I headed down towards the kitchen for the big feast!

Thought slow and easy Abz, slow and easy with the food, no one will take it, you have rightfully earned it, May Allah swt provide you with much Sabr. So that the way I started and well the finishing was a completely different story.

With Tarawee finishing around 23.15 I thought better eat more before as will go to bed when I come home from the Mosque. So had some Pilaw rice with lamb chops and keema. Could not finish the food when I had a sudden pain all around my stomach, think I definitely must have cosumed over 1200 kcals easy in the duration of the time taken for a football match! I could not move literally, so lied down downing what I had with some much needed H2O. Next thing you know missed Esha and Tarawee and it was now 00:10!

Went to my room to get ready for prayer and concked out in my bed and got up at 05.15 (oh no missed Sehri - this is not good), so prayed my Fajr and went to bed. Now have a pain saking long day ahead of me, May Allah (swt) make the day ahead easy for me. The last time I ate or drank was at 21:20 (Day 3) and Iftar will be at 19:43 today (so that almost over 22 hours of no food or water for me). At this rate I will be the "Machinist" (Christian Bale featured film where he only consumed one apple and water daily for the part).

Ramadan thought of the day:
"Have Sabr in all things you do, even from the simple tasks for eating and talking, as those that show patience and forbearance will be the ones that Allah (swt) will be pleased with"

Ramadan - Day 3

...from the break of fast in Day 2, I have made the intention not to over indulge especially between Iftaar and Esha prayers. This is easier said then done.

After having opened my fast with the " usual" array of food mum had prepared, I sat down with a cup of tea, and downed it with a fine cheese cake I bought for my sisters Birthday, it was abs gorgeous. My will power did not give in, and just was content with a slice (will check tonight to see if there is more of this left over - I am fearful that they may not be - bah!).

Mind you, there was some nice pilaw rice that mum had dished up but given that I had keema (minced meat) with "fita" (not sure what you call this in English), had to stop right there.

Finished the day off with a 100ml actimel pot and headed to my resting place around 00.15 which is pretty good for me. Got up for Sehri around 04.10 and made some Quaker Oats Porridge. Thought this would be the right tonic to keep me going for the day IA. Performed my Fajr 15-20 minutes after the end of Sehri, spending time doing Dhikr (supplications to remember Allah swt) in between. At that time of the morning, it feels good to when no one is up and you can think all alone with the company of All mighty creator, its very peaceful and find sleep is so much more fulfilling after.


Ramadan thought of the day:
"Be thankful to Allah (swt) for even the smallest things in life, for what may appear small to the naked eye, are larger than life in your heart of hearts"

Ramadan - Day 2

Had much to eat for Iftaar, starting with breaking my fast with dates from Madinah, and then came the local Bengali delicatessen's of "kissouri" (this is made from broken rice and with ghee/butter) with "sana" (chick peas with onions), it is most delicious (taste so much better when you are fasting, I must say).

The night was very fruitful, took Paps to the Masjid for Taraweeh Salat, he has not been to the Mosque since his stroke back in April so was a nice change for him to get out especially given that he never misses Taraweeh in the Mosque for as long as I can remember. Thought my idea for him to take him on the bus to get some exercise was a good ideas only up to 11.30pm when waiting for the buses in the cold got a little too much.

Nevertheless bought Paps some Mango tins for him to savour at Sehri (as long as he can control his blood-sugar level that is).

Had a little bit of rice with fried fish (which my cousing sis Sanwara made over the weekend and passed on to Mum). My cousins cooking is so good, it beats any restaurant cuisine hands down. It has been known that peeps drive miles to come to her house just for the food, mind you her new house is beautiful, Alhamdullilah.

I ended the day as I always to during Ramadan on the sofa sleeping whilst watching the end of the documentary of Mosques and Sisters which was a very bias account I must add of most sisters in Britian, well what can one do when you have this to content with on this beautiful blessed month and on Day 1 too!

Ramadan thought of the day:
"Ensure that those who have dearly loved and cared for you in your formative years are not neglected, keep them warm in your hearts and do no despair when challenges are placed upon you as for Allah (swt) will not provide one with challenges that He knows you can not overcome"

Ramadan - Day 1

The day before Ramadan everyone and certainly I am no different to this, waits for their text messages and phones to go off after the sunset and Maghrib prayers.

I recieved those texts after Maghrib "Ramadan Mubarak" many times over and rightfully I sent as many texts back with my own personal touch to it.

I prepared myself for Ramadan like all other years, getting my clean clothes out, having a shower and wearing them to the Mosque for the first Tarweeh prayers. This prayers are Sunnat prayers of usually 20 rakat and can last for sometime (2 hours in my Mosque) as the intention is to complete the Qur'an recitation by the Qari over the course of the month usually until the 27th Night of Ramadan, earmarked to be the night of "Lay Latul- Qadr" (this as it happens is on one of the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan and thus the 27th is not set in stone). Left the Mosque close to 00:00, but it was a nice walk back home for contemplation of what Ramadan brings.

My sister ordered some Karahi Lamb Chops, the Ali family favourite dish from our local indian restaurant nearby "Karahi Queen", to savour after the Taraweeh prayers, it was delicious even at 01:00 in the morning!

Got up for Sehri around 04.15, think it was the right time, as quick as one can say its Fajr now, scoffed the bran flakes and went to sleep, and missed Fajr! Doh! Will not do this again, first round only...there are 30 more to go....Ding Dong!

Today has been ok, felt hungry at 08.00 when I got up to go to work but now I am fine and its 17.45 so just over 2 hours to go till I break my fast at 19:50 today.

Ramadan knocks..

"...their is a knock on the door, and by the sounds of its tone, is one that screams out to be opened.

As I open the door slowly, looking for a sign of who it can be, and then it dawns upon me that it is no other than the best of guests, Ramadan. With this in my mind I welcome and embrace Ramadan synonymous to a mother wrapping her her arms to her new born for the first time" -Abz

Ramadan bring me great great pleasure and brings a warm large smile to my face and life.

It is one of the 5 pillars of Islam and is obligatory upon all muslims as written in the Holy Qur'an.

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed
to you as it was prescribed to those
before you, so that you may learn
self-restraint”(Al-Qur’an 2:183)

Throughout the 30 or so days that Ramadan is with me, I will keep you posted on my own developments on a day to day basis, featuring body, mind and soul and what has helped me through it all, the ups and downs, that's is after all life and one cannot perfect their deen without experiencing the struggles I say.

This month will be a long one with almost 16 hours of fasting on Day 1, it would be something that certainly my generation would not had experienced or have memories of experiencing.

I would most welcome your comments too on your own personal experiences as well as on mine so please do.

p.s The calender featured on this site is from the ICC (Islamic Cultural Centre - Regents Park Mosque) and the times for Sehri may well differ from your local Mosque timetables.

Brothers Account of the Rihal Programme

I met a brother, called Sagir Hassam, known to all his close friends and family as "Hagi almost over a year ago during my charity fundraising campaign to walk up Mount Snowdon.

This brother is a brother with much energy, you would think he has a power plant connected to his orifices, never mind Duracell AA long lasting batteries. However his heart is in the right place and that what counts. He embarked on a journey last month on the Rihla Programme and yesterday came to present and share his experience with his colleagues and close freinds.

More about the Deen intensive programme can be found on:

http://www.deenintensive.com/

Another very close brother of mines, Zakaria Timms also went on this programme. I was very much moved by the presentaion, especially the warmth of brother Hagis love for learning about Islam, Our Prophet (pbuh) as well as the smallest and beautiful things that he had experienced on his journey.

There were many people that brother Hagi had mentioned and my mind is not so great in trying to download them now onto cyberspace so easily, I will IA endeaver to do as this is something I would like to learn more about.

This years program was held in the blessed cities of Madinah, Mecca and Taif during the month of July.

The Teachers that were present in the Rihla programme included:
Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah
Shaykh Abdullah al-Kadi
Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad
Ustadh Abdel Hadi Honerkamp
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
Ustadh Yahya Rhodus

I will look more at the works of these scholars in due course IA.