Dua

O Allah please forgive all my sins and grant me the Tawfeeq of making Islaah (reform). O Allah, make my Imaan strong with Taqwa and grant me Husn-e-Khaatimah (a beautiful Maut). O Allah, grant me Ilm and Hikmah (Wisdom) and give me Hidayah to practice upon what I know. Let me observe all the Sunnahs and keep me in the company of pious people in both the Worlds. O Allah grant me the love of all good deeds; create in me the urgency to do good with sincerity and Istiqaamah (Steadfastness). Please accept all my imperfect deeds through your Mercy. O Allah save me from all kinds of evil intentions and deeds. Save me from everything that leads towards evil. Let my heart reject evil and grant me the courage to stay away from all evil company. O Allah, protect me from Shaytan’s presence and his sweet tricks. O Allah, make it easy for me to control my Nafs, for me to accept my faults and to worry about my Imaan until death. O Allah, save us from all calamities, oppression, sihr (black magic) and from hurting anybody’s feelings. O Allah bless us with easy halal rizk in abundance and save us from debts and poverty. O Allah, grant me continuous excellent health so that I can make Ibadah with humility. O Allah, I beg of you through your Mercy for Jannatul-Firdaus without any reckoning. O Allah, save me from a bad Maut, the Azaab of the Qabr, the terrors of the Day of Qiyamah and from the horrors of Jahannam. Please do not disgrace me in front of all. O Allah, look after my parents. Have Mercy upon them just as they had mercy upon me in my childhood. Let me be of service to them with kindness and compassion. O Allah let my family be the coolness of my eyes. Protect them from all harm and grant them Barakah in their deeds, lifespan, knowledge and wealth. O’Allah, give me the strength to fulfil everyone’s rights without expecting any of mine to be fulfilled in return. Grant me a good character, soft speech, kind words and tolerance upon hurt and pain inflicted upon me. O Allah help the entire Ummah of Rasulullah (SAW). Grant them victory over all their enemies, remove their difficulties, bless them with Barakah and fulfil all their needs. O Allah, forgive all those who have passed away and fill their Qabr with Noor. Have Mercy upon them and let me take a lesson from their departure from this temporary world.

Ameen

I’m going to let you finish, but xyz is a better Muslim than you are

Or is he?

The Prophet Pbuh knew exactly when Laylatul Qadr was, but he knew his ummah would be a bunch of lazy asses, so instead of handing yet another miraculous night to us on a platter, he asked us to search for it in the last ten nights. According to most ahadith, the only clue he gave us was that it was one of the odd nights. (One question I’ve had for a very long time is if its fixed which of the nights it is. It should be, right? But then how come we see signs of Laylatul Qadr (rain, bright night, etc) on different nights each year?)

We usually go for Qiyam ul Layl during the last ten nights of Ramadan, where we pray eight rakahs of Tahajjud in congregation. We begin at 2am and finish around 4. You’re good if you get there five minutes earlier on any other day, but on the 27th night, we have to leave latest by 1 to guarantee a spot inside the mosque. This is because most people assume that Laylatul Qadr is on the 27th.

Its annoying at times, because we’ve been clearly told to concentrate on all 5 odd nights. But then when you think about it, atleast praying for one night is better than not praying at all?

Abu has taught us forever that a person who prays any more during Ramadan than he does in any other month is a hypocrite. His point being that we should pray just as much on any other day (not any less in Ramadan, Usman). So this excess during Ramadan makes them a Munafiq. And Innal Munafiqeena fiddarkal asfale minannaar. Which means Allah t has special seating arrangements for you. Or should I say, special heating arrangements. Get it? Ha ha. Anyway, someone asked the same question of Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman once on a TV show, (I love that guy btw. Last year, everyoen blamed him for the Pakistanis celebrating Eid on two different days, and his response? “Germany mein bhi do Eidein manayi gayi; wahan toh mein nahi tha na?”) Ok I’ve lost all track of my punctuation, so I’ll start again. Someone asked him the same question and he said that if you knew there was a sale or special offer at a store, wouldn’t you buy more than usual? In the same way, Allah t has said that every nafl is equal to a fard prayer and every fard is worth times 70 during Ramadan. What person in their right mind wouldn’t want to pray harder?

There’s this guy in my office, who honest to God would win the award for Sleaziest Person Ever, hands down. Come Ramadan, he has started fasting, prayed for the first few days and even styled his hair differently so he can look shareef. You still have the same dirty eyes dude, it doesn’t matter what direction you part your hair. Anyway, so I was thinking usually all he talks about is how he partied until the early hours every single night and here he wasnow advocating piety and abstinence. He’s been working from this office for over 3 years and he had to ask where the prayer room was.

What I’m trying to say is he changed his ways completely for Ramadan, and now post Eid, he’s back to partying and drinking (even his hair is back to the same ugly). Not just him, there are many others who changed their attires and their ways for Ramadan, only temporarily, though. I used to do it too. Should this be enough? Will any of this count? Will Allah t consider our fasts and prayers?

And again, atleast being good for one month is better than not being good at all right? Or is it? Does it really count as hypocrisy?

My sisters and I have been praying for as long as we can remember, and we read the Quran pak regularly and Alhamdulillah we don’t drink or smoke or many other things, and none of this was or is forced on us. We do it because we want to. But we don’t use the hijaab. Will any of this count then? What about preaching, when you don’t practice (atleast not perfectly)? (Is there anyone who does practice perfectly?) I don’t do enough, but still if I see someone around me doing something wrong, like not having their feet the right distance apart in namaz, or holding the Quran pak too close to their feet, I make sure I point it out. This is probably the only time I don’t mind being told off, because I know atleast I tried. Do I have the right to tell another person to make sure their dupatta is on right during their namaz, when I take mine off as soon as I leave the prayer room?

I always talk about how I want to visit this country and that, but I never mention wanting to go for Hajj or Umrah. Why? Because I know I’ll have to change my ways if I do, and I’m nto sure if I’m ready for the change yet. I don’t think I’m ready for a hijaab yet. Hajj and Umrah are a big responsibility, not just a holiday right?

There was a guy once who prayed all day everyday for all his life. When he died, Allah t asked him if he wanted to be considered for Jannah based on his prayers, or based on Allah t’s mercy. He said he thought he woudl do ok just based on his own deeds, and Allah t replied that with all his prayers, he couldn’t even thank Allah t enough for his little finger. He then said he wanted Allah’s mercy, and he was admitted into Jannah. Another story is how Allah t let a prostitute into Jannah because she had fed a cat. I guess we don’t really know then who Allah t favors.

What about those who only fast? If someone admits to not praying regularly, I don’t find it out of the ordinary, because its not a big deal I know loads of Muslims who don’t pray. But if a Muslim tells me they’re not fasting, I feel so disappointed, so let down by them. There was a guy in my class who told me he had missed a few fasts during Ramadan, and when I asked him why (I’m rude), he said because he had a Cricket Tournament. I wanted to punch him and ask how Cricket was more important than fasting. And again, if it can be more important than Praying, then why am I surprised?

Why isn’t that acceptable, if not praying is? Its been made clear that the pillars are Shahadah, Salah, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj. Salah first, not Sawm. I’m not saying Sawm isn’t very important, but its less important than Salah, right?

And again, is only fasting better than not praying AND not fasting?

Jummah prayers are sunnah (from what I remember), not fard, and Eid namaz is wajib*, so why do people turn up in droves for these and not for the fard prayers? And more importantly, why do people who even pray regularly give more importance to these when speaking to another Muslim. I know I do. I called one of my friends for Eid once, to wish him, even though he doesn’t pray namaz and when he said he hadn’t prayed Eid namaz, I didn’t wish him Eid Mubarak. I didn’t want to.

I don’t really know where I’m going with this. I think I’ve said too much. I hope I didn’t make Allah t angry with me. Do you think he will set me up with an Indian now?

Six more for Shawwal

You know now that Ramadan is over, you should fast 6 days in this month of Shawwal. Honestly, its easy peasy after you’ve been used to a whole month, plus the days are shorter. Fasting the whole month of Ramadan plus six in Shawwal is like fasting for the whole year in terms of reward.

You don’t need to thank me. Instead, some prayers would be nice.

Pray Tonight, Fast Tomorrow

Ok?

Dua

Guidance from The Prophet (saws)
Hadrat Abdullah bin Masud (r.a.) reported: ‘The Messenger of Allah(saws) used to supplicate:

Allahumma inni as’alukal-huda, wat-tuqa, wal-afafa, wal-ghina

O Allah! I beseech You for guidance, piety, chastity and contentment

Related by Muslim, quoted from Riyad-us-Saliheen (Hadith # 1468)

Commentary:
The Messenger of Allah (saws) preferred to make supplications which were short and general in nature, but wholesome and comprehensive in its meanings.
Huda: Guidance towards virtue, ability to do good deeds, and remain steadfast on the Straight Path of Allah Subhanah.
Tuqa: To comply wholeheartedly with the Commands of Allah and to prevent oneself from what the Lord has forbidden is ‘taqwa’ (piety, or the fear of Allah).
Afafa: means prevention from sins and also means evasion from seeking help from others.
Ghina: enough sustenance which makes one independent of all others except Allah Subhanah.

100 Questions

1) What is the meaning of the word ‘Qur’an’?
A) That which is Read.
2) Where was the Qur’an revealed first?
A) In the cave of Hira (Makkah)
3) On which night was the Qur’an first revealed?
A) Lailatul-Qadr (Night of the Power)
4) Who revealed the Qur’an?
A) Allah revealed the Qur’an
5) Through whom was the Qur’an revealed?
A) Through Angel Jibraeel (Alaihis-Salaam)
6) To whom was the Qur’an revealed?
A) To the last Prophet, Muhammed (Sallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
7) Who took the responsibility of keeping the Qur’an safe?
A) Allah himself
8) What are the conditions for holding or touching the Qur’an?
A) One has to be clean and to be with wudhu (ablution)
9) Which is the book which is read most?
A) The Qur’an
10) What is the topic of the Qur’an?
A) Man
11) What are the other names of the Qur’an according to the Qur’an itself?
A) A l-Furqaan, Al-Kitaab, Al-Zikr, Al-Noor,Al-Huda
12) How many Makki Surahs (chapters) are there in the Qur’an?
A) 86
13) How many Madani Surahs (chapters) are there in the Qur’an?
A) 28
14) How many Manzils (stages) are there in the Qur’an?
A) 7
15) How many Paara or Juz (parts) are there in the Qur’an?
A) 30
16) How many Surahs (chapters) are there in the Qur’an?
A) 114
17) How many Rukoo (paragraphs) are there in the Qur’an?
A) 540
18) How many Aayaath (verses) are there in the Qur’an?
A) 6666
19) How many times is the word ‘Allah’ repeated in the Qur’an?
A) 2698
20) How many different types of Aayaath (verses) are there in the Qur’an?
A) 10
21) Who is the first ‘Haafiz’ of the Qur’an?
A) Prophet Muhammed (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam)
22) At the time of the death of Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) how many Huffaz were there?
A) 22
23) How many Aayaath (verses) on Sajda (prostat ion) are there in the Qur’an?
A) 14
24) In which Paara (part) and Surah (chapter) do you find the first verse about Sajda (prostration)?
A) 9th Paara, 7th Chapter-Surah- al-Araaf, Verse 206
25) How many times has the Qur’an stressed about Salaat or Namaaz (prayer)?
A) 700 times
26) How many times has the Qur’an emphasized on alms or charity?
A) 150
27) How many times in the Qur’an, is the Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) addressed as Yaa-Aiyu-Han-Nabi?
A) 11 times
28) Where in the Qur’an has Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) been named ‘Ahmed’?
A) Paara 28th, Surah Saff, Ayath 6th
29) How many times has the name of Rasool-ullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)been mentioned in the Qur’an?
A) Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)-4times Ahmed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)-1 time
30) Name the Prophet whose name is mentioned and discussed most in the Qur’an?
A) Moosa (Alahis-Salaam)
31) Who were the Kaathibe-Wahi (copyists of the revelations) of the Qur’an?
A) Abu Bakr (Radhiallahu Anhu), Usman (Radhiallahu Anhu), Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu), Zaid Bin Harith(Radhiallahu Anhu) And Abdullah bin Masood (Radhiallahu Anhu)
32) Who was the first person who counted the Aayaath (verses) of the Qur’an?
A) Aisha (Radhiallahu Anha)
33) On whose advice did Abu Bakr (Radhiallahu Anhu) decide to compile the Qur’an?
A) Omer Farooq(Radhiallahu Anhu)
34) On whose order was the Qur’an compiled completely in written form?
A) Abu Bakr (Radhiallahu Anhu)
35) Who confined the recitation of the Qur’an on the style of the Quraysh tribe?
A) Usman (Radhiallahu Anhu)
36) Out of the copies of the Qur’an compiled by Usman (Radhiallahu Anhu), how many and where are they at present?
A) Only 2 copies. One in Tashkent and the other in Istanbul.
37) Which Surah of the Qur’an was Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) reciting while praying, that Hazrat Jabeer Bin Muth’im listened to and embraced Islam?
A) Surah Thoor
38) Which was the Surah of the Qur’an which the Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had recited that one of his enemies Utba after listening to it, fell in Sajda (prostration)?
A) The first five Ayaaths of Ham-Meem-Sajda
39) Which is the first and the most ancient Mosque according to the Qur’an?
A) Kaaba
40) In Qur’an mankind is divided into two groups. Which are those two groups?
A) Believers and disbelievers
41) Who is the man about whom, Allah has said in the Qur’an that his body is kept as an admonishing example for future generations to come?
A) Fir’aun (Pharaoh)
42) Besides the body of Pharaoh, what is that thing which is kept as an admonishing example for future generations to come?
A) Noah’s Ark.
43) After the wreckage of Prophet Noah’s Ark, which is its place of rest mentioned in the Qur’an?
A) Cave of Judi.
44) In the Qur’an the name of which companion of Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is mentioned?
A) Zaid Bin Harith.
45) Who is the relative of the Prophet Muahmmed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) whose name is mentioned in the Qur’an?
A) Abu Lahab
46) In the Qur’an there is a mention of a Prophet who has been called by his mother’s name. Who was he?
A) Jesus [Prophet Isa (Alahis salaam)] is mentioned as bn Maryam.
47) Which was the agreement that was titled Fath-hum-Mubeen without fighting a battle?
A) Treaty of Hudaibiya
48) What are the different names used for Satan or Devil in the Qur’an?
A) Iblees and Ash-Shaitaan.
49) Which category of creature does the Qur’an put ‘Iblees’ into?
A) Jinn.
50) What were those worships and prayers that were ordered by Allah to the community of Bani Israeel and which were continued by the Muslim Ummah also?
A) Salaat and Zakaat. (Al-Baqarah: 43)
51) The Qur’an repeatedly warns of a certain day. Which day is this?
A) Youmal Qiyamah.(Doomsday)
52) Who were those people with whom Allah was pleased and they were pleased with Him, as mentioned in the Qur’an?
A) Companions of Prophet Muhammed (Sallallah u Alaihi Wasallam)
53) In which Holy Book of Non-Muslims the Qur’an mentioned repeatedly?
A) In the Holy Book of Sikh Community-Granth Saheb.
54) In which year were the vowels inserted in the Qur’an?
A) 43 Hijri.
55) Who were the first serious students of the Qur’an?
A) As-haabus Suffah.
56) Which is the first Residential University where the faculty of the Qur’an was established for the first time?
A) Masjid-e-Nabvi. [Mosque of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)]
57) By what name did the Qur’an address those noble and pious people who were selected by Allah to convey His message to mankind?
A) Nabi (Prophet) and Rasool (Messenger).
58) What type of a person does the Qur’an want to make?
A) Momin.
59) What is the scale or measure of one’s dignity according to the Qur’an?
A) Taqwa (Piety)
60) What according to the Qur’an is the root cause of the evil?
A) Alcohol.
61) What are the two most important types of kinds of Aayaat (Verses) found in the Qur’an?
A) Muhakamaat and muthashabihaath.
62) Which is the longest Surah (Chapter) in the Qur’an?
A) Surah-al-Baqarah.
63) Which is the smallest Surah in the Qur’an?
A) Surah-al-Kausar.
64) What was the age of Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) when Qur’an was first revealed to him through Jibraeel (Alaihis-salaam) ?
A) 40 Years.
65) How long did Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) receive the revelation of the Qur’an in Makkah?
A) 13 Years.
66) How long did Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) receive the revelation of the Qur’an in Madinah?
A) 10 Years.
67) Where was the first Surah revealed?
A) In Makkah.
68) Where was the last Surah revealed?
A) In Madinah.
69) How many years did it take for the complete revelation of the Qur’an?
A) 22 years, 5 months and 14 days.
70) Which Surah of the Qur’an is to be read compulsorily in each raka’at of the Salaat (Namaaz)?
A) Surah-al-Fatihah.
71) Which is the Surah, which Allah taught as a Du’a(Prayer) ?
A) Surah-al-Fatihah.
72) What is the reason of keeping Surah-al-Fatihah in the beginning of the Qur’an?
A) It is the door to the Qur’an
73) What is the Surah (Chapter) revealed completely and found first place in the Qur’an?
A) Surah-al-Fatihah.
74) Who was the only lady whose personal name is found in the Qur’an?
A) Mariam (Alaihis- salaam).
75) In which Surah (Chapter) of the Qur’an do you find maximum instructions?
A) Surah-al-Baqarah.
76) When and where did the Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Jibraeel (Alaihis-salaam) meet for the second time?
A) On Friday, 18th Ramadan, in the Cave of Hira.
77) What was the interval between the first and the second revelation?
A) 2 years and six months.
78) Which is the Surah (Chapter) that starts without Bismillah?
A) Surah-al-Taubah or Bara’ath.
79) In which Surah (Chapter) of the Qur’an Bismillah is repeated twice?
A) Surah-al Naml.
80) How many Surah (Chapter) in the Qur’an have the titles named after different Prophets?
A) 6 Surahs (Chapters):
a) Surah-al-Yunus.
b) Surah-al-Hood.
c) Surah-al-Yusuf.
d) Surah-al-Ibraheem.
e) Surah-al-Nuh.
f) Surah-al-Muhammed.
81) In which part of the Qur’an do you find ‘Ayat-ul-Kursi’ (Verse of the Throne)?
A) In the beginning of the third Part (Chapter2-55)
82) How many different names of Allah are mentioned in the Qur’an?
A) 99
83) Who were the three non-prophets whose names are mentioned with due respect in the Qur’an?
A) Luqman, Aziz of Egypt and Zulqarnain.
84) At the time Abu Bakr (Radhiallahu Anhu) how many companions had compiled the Qur’an in the form of a book?
A) 75 companions.
85) Which is that only book that is completely memorized by millions of people in the world?
A) Al-Qur’an.
86) What did the Jinns who heard a few Aayaath Verses) of the Qur’an say to each other?
A) We have heard a unique discourse which shows the right path, verily we believe in it.
87) Which are the most popular translations of the Qur’an in English?
A) Translation by Muhammed Marmaduke Pickthall and by Allama Yusuf Ali.
88) Into how many languages of the world has the Holy Qur’an been translated?
A) Nearly 103 languages.
89) Who was the first translator of the Holy Qur’an into Urdu?
A) Moulana Shah Rafiuddin Muhaddis Dehlavi.
90) What will be our condition on ‘The day of the Judgment’ according to the Qur’an?
A) Everybody will be in a state of anxiety.
91) Who was the Prophet mentioned in the Qur’an whose three generations were prophets?
A) Ibrahim (Alaihis-salaam) .
92) What is that book which abolished all old rules and regulations?
A) Al-Qur’an.
93) What does the Qur’an say about property and wealth?
A) They are tests of one’s faith.
94) According to the Qur’an who is ‘Khaatimun Nabiyyeen’ (the last of the Prophets)?
A) Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
95) What is the name of the book that tells us clearly about the reality of the beginning and the end of the world?
A) Al-Qur’an.
96) In the Qur’an what other name is given to the city of Makkah?
A) Bakkah and Baladul Ameen.
97) According to the Qur’an what other name is given to the city of Madinah?
A) Yathrib.
98) Whose Generation is known as ‘Bani Israeel’ according to the Qur’an?
A) The generation of Prophet Yaqoob (Alaihis salaam) who is also known as Israeel.
99) Which are the mosques that are mentioned in the Qur’an?
a) Masjid-ul-Haram.
b) Masjid-ul-Zirar.
c) Masjid-ul-Nabawi.
d) Masjid-u l-Aqsa.
e) Masjid Quba.
100) The name of which angels are mentioned in the Qur’an?
a) Jibraeel Ameen (Alaihis salaam)
b) Meekaeel (Alaihis salaam)
c) Haroot (Alaihis salaam)
d) Maroot (Alaihis salaam)