Come Back, Ramadan

Tomorrow or the day after it will be the last day of Ramadan.

I hope Allah will forgive my sins and accept my fast, amen!

Wishing you acceptance and forgiveness! Let us pray that Allah helps us on keeping away from sins!

Regarding 9/11 & Eid Al-Fitr Coincidence

Ibnat al-Hidayah has cleared everything up regarding Eid Al-Fitr which is a festival celebrated to break the 30-day fast during Ramadan, and she also clarified the misconceptions held by some in that we build Masjids only on holy sites.

Of course, I am not excited that Eid Al-Fitr coincides with the 9/11 anniversary this year. And, I really do see the importance of expanding one’s knowledge regarding others’ faith at such a time.

I only have one thing to say regarding this matter:

Al-Qaeda, damn on you.

Sins & Acceptance of Repentance in Islam

I would like to share this article with you regarding the concept of sins in Islam and about Allah’s acceptance of a sinner’s repentance.

May Allah accept our repentance in this Holy month and may He help us walk on the straight path, Amen!

Food Wars in Ramadan

If you go to the hypermarket in any Arab country, especially in the Gulf, during Ramadan, even before, you will see long queues of shoppers pushing trolleys filled to form a mountain. This can be seen all Ramadan long, and I always think there is going to be a war that I have not heard of, yet!

Why this waste of food in Ramadan? Maybe some of the shoppers buy this much of food to distribute it in Masjids or Iftar tents, but why only in Ramadan people go crazy about food and cook so much dishes and eventually throw most of it in the garbage?

You know what? Ramadan is Eid for stray cats.

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals. (31)

Quran 7:31

Who can eat that much in Ramadan?

Ramadan Questions & Answers

I would like to share some questions and answers regarding the holy month of Ramadan from Islam Question and Answer Website:

• How can she make use of her time when she is cooking in Ramadaan?
• Ramadaan fasting is not acceptable if one does not pray.
• Fasting makes her lazy and causes her to lose weight; can she not fast?
• He is afraid that he may become sick because of being underweight; is he allowed not to fast during Ramadan?
• It is better for pregnant and breastfeeding women not to fast if it is too hard for them to fast.
• Does wearing lipstick when fasting break the fast?
• When should a person make the intention to fast, and what if he finds out during the day that Ramadan has begun?
• Having fillings and applying medicine to the teeth does not affect the fast.
• Using toothpaste whilst fasting.
• Worship is love and veneration; it is not burdensome and difficult.
• Every person who is resident in a country is obliged to start and end the fast with its people.
• Does he have to make up what he missed of Ramadan before he became Muslim?
• He is going to travel and will remain abroad for three months; does he have to fast Ramadan?
• He wants to delay making up Ramadan fasts until winter because the days are shorter.

And here is a link to a book about “70 Matters Related to Fasting” from Islam Question and Answer.

Flooded Pakistan

The recent floods in Pakistan have come in a difficult time for its people. They have to struggle against the evildoers of Al-Qaeda, and Ramadan this time is different for most of them:

Let us pray for them and support them in every possible way.

Fasting of the Tongue

Fasting in Ramadan is not only limited to abstaining from food, drinks, and sexual relationships during the day. More important than fasting from food and drinks is to guard one’s tongue.

Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, said:

One who while fasting does not guard his tongue from telling lies and does not refrain from bad deeds, is not respecting his fast. Allah does not approve of mere abstention from food.

When you are fasting, you should not speak ill of anybody, nor should you be rough and noisy. If anybody speaks ill of you or tries to pick a quarrel with you, reply him not, but say to him that you are fasting.

Fasting can make a person rough, but it is a good test to observe the willpower of one’s soul to perfect itself.

A Pity to the Worshippers of Ramadan

Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, said:

If people understood what good there was in the month of Ramadan, they would have liked that it last for a year.

It is very wrong for a Muslim to pray, read the Quran, do more good, and refrain from sins only in Ramadan. A Muslim is supposed to pray, read the Quran, do more good, and refrain from sins all year long. Ramadan is a month filled with Allah’s blessings. Each of us must invest more time during Ramadan for worshiping and perfecting one’s character.

Those who are submitting to Allah only in Ramadan are losers. Fasting is supposed to change hearts. Those who do not feel any guilt or shame during their fast and when Ramadan ends they continue committing sins are low in faith.

Ramadan blessings are felt by those who really want to change and start a new page as true Muslims.

Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, said:

Unfortunate is the person who is deprived of the forgiveness of Allah during this great month (of Ramadan).

A pity to those who worship Ramadan!

Ward Off Evil

Fasting helps us not do bad and control our desires.

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

O ye who believe! Devour not usury, doubling and quadrupling (the sum lent). Observe your duty to Allah, that ye may be successful. (130) And ward off (from yourselves) the Fire prepared for disbelievers. (131) And obey Allah and the messenger, that ye may find mercy. (132) And vie one with another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off (evil); (133) Those who spend (of that which Allah hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loveth the good; (134) And those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins – Who forgiveth sins save Allah only? – and will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did. (135) The reward of such will be forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever – a bountiful reward for workers! (136)

Quran 3:130-136

The Holy Month of Ramadan

In the Holy Quran, Allah says:

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil); (183) (Fast) a certain number of days; and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number of other days; and for those who can afford it there is a ransom: the feeding of a man in need – but whoso doeth good of his own accord, it is better for him: and that ye fast is better for you if ye did but know – (184) The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful. (185) And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright. (186)

Quran 2:183-186

Guarding Your Tongue

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:

I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The slave speaks words for which he is sent down to the Hell-Fire farther than the distance between the east and the west.

Fasting softens both the heart and the tongue. It helps you control your temper and your emotions.

Guard your tongue not only during the day, but also during the night.

Where Is Google’s Ramadan Doodle?

Ramadan Mubarak to all!

So, today is the first day of Ramadan. I thought I would see a Ramadan doodle on Google.

There is none!

Why there is no doodle for Ramadan, I do not know. Ramadan is a major event celebrated by more than one billion people worldwide. Its spirit manifests all around us, in every house, in every town, and it crosses borders.

Note: Some Websites imply that there is no need for a Ramadan doodle on Google. Why? Because anything of Islamic link reminds them, as they claim, of terrorism or antisemitism! Surely, it is either a sign of jealousy, hatred, or both.