7. How To Benefit In Ramadhaan Even During Menses

By Asma bint Shameem

I see many sisters, who are masha' Allaah, very enthusiastic about their prayers, duas and Ibaadah during the month of Ramadhaan. But, come their time for menses, it's like someone turned their switch 'off'.

They completely stop all forms of worship and think that their menses is a reason to take a 'vacation' from remembering Allaah....totally. 

They start spending their time shopping, watching TV or just doing other stuff, just because they are 'on it', although previously they were very eager to spend their time remembering Allaah.

And then, there are some of my sisters, who are genuinely very distraught and feel kind of deprived and sad and so helpless that they cannot pray or fast during these days.

Naturally, they stop praying and fasting, as per the orders of Allaah, but then, they also stop all other forms of worship and means of coming close to their Rabb.

This is so much so that even during the last ten nights of Ramadhaan, instead of searching for Laylatul Qadr, the night in which worship is better than a thousand months, although they feel bad about missing out, they sleep through it, just because they are having their menses, thinking there is nothing they can do.

And thus, they lose out on the countless blessings, tremendous goodness and precious moments of this beautiful month.

So what's a woman to do during this time?

1. Submit to the decree of Allaah

Dear sister, don't feel sad or deprived. Realize that Allaah has decreed for all women to have menses. It's not just you. All women have to go through this. And when the time for it comes, it comes.

Once our Mother, Aaisha Radhi Allaahu Anha was accompanying the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) on Hajj when she got her period.
This made her sad and she started crying.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) consoled her, saying:

"This is something which Allaah has decreed for the daughters of Adam.” (Bukhaari)

Dear sister, never forget that Islaam means submission....submission to Allaah and His rules. Submitting to His rules IS Ibaadah.

Realize that you were obeying Allaah when you were fasting and praying and you are still obeying Allaah when you are NOT fasting and praying.

Because it was Allaah that ordered you to pray and fast and it is Allaah Who is ordering you NOT to pray and fast in your menses.

Thus, not praying or fasting during your menses is also Ibaadah itself.

Remember, it's all about doing things the way Allaah wants. That's Islaam. That's Ibaadah.

Also know that if you can not fast due to a valid Shar'i reason then Allaah will reward you, just as if you were fasting.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:

"When a slave of Allaah falls ill or goes on a journey, he is credited with the same amount of recompense as he used to do in his state of health or when he was at home". (Bukhaari)

2. Reciting the Qur'aan

Although there is a difference of opinion, many of the scholars, including Ibn Abbaas, Imaam Bukhaari, Ibn Taymiyah, Ibn Baaz, Shaikh al-Albaani, etc said that it is okay for a woman on her menses to read the Qur'aan, without touching it directly.

Ibn Taymiyah said:

“There is no clear, saheeh text to indicate that a menstruating woman is forbidden to recite Qur'aan… It is known that women used to menstruate at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he did not forbid them to recite Qur'aan, or to remember Allaah (dhikr) and offer du’aa’.”

And Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

"It is permissible for the woman who is menstruating or bleeding following childbirth to recite Qur’aan according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions."
(Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 10/209)

If you want to be extra careful about not touching the Mushaf, you can also read the Qur'aan off of the Internet or on your cell phone.

3. Read the meanings and tafseer of the Qur'aan

Pick up a good tafseer of the Qur'aan and read it.
There is no Tahaarah required for it.

Reflect on the words of your Rabb, ponder over the meanings and understand what Allaah is saying to us.

These ayaat,my sister, are not there just for us to read; rather to *interact* with them, and *implement* them in our lives.

Allaah says:

"(This is a) Book that We have sent down to you, full of blessings, so that they may ponder over its aayaat, and that those of understanding may remember." [Surah Saad:29]

And what better time would we have than now, to read the translation and tafseer, to understand the meanings of this Noble Book, so that we can achieve guidance?

Allaah says:

"And We have indeed made the Qur'aan easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)?" (Surah al-Qamar:17)

4. Listening to the Qur'aan

There's nothing like listening to a beautiful recitation of the Qur'aan, especially at times when you are feeling down, such as because of your period.

It fills the heart with such tranquility, such peace that no words can describe.

It increases Imaan and brings you great rewards since listening to the Qur'aan with an attentive heart is an act of Ibaadah in itself.

The Sahaabah loved to listen to the Qur'aan being recited and even the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) would sometimes listen to the Qur'aan from other people and he would cry.

Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood radhi Allaahu anhu said:

"The Messenger of Allaah (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said to me: “Recite the Qur'aan to me.”
I said: O Messenger of Allaah, should I recite to you when it was revealed to you?
He said: “I like to hear it from someone else.”
So I recited al-Nisa’, and when I reached the verse, “How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) as a witness against these people?” [al-Nisa’ 4:41], I raised my head....and I saw his tears flowing...”
(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

So play a beautiful recitation of your favorite Qaari, close your eyes and listen attentively.
Let the Words of the Lord of the Worlds echo in the room, filling your ears, your mind, your whole being.
Let those ayaat penetrate deep into you until your heart shakes and your skin shivers...and then Believe. And Submit.

5. Do a lot of Dhikr

Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allaah, when you are on your period and when you are not.

There is nothing like it. It is one of the most beloved deeds to Allaah and His Messenger (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) and gets you tremendous rewards. And yet, it's so easy, Alhamdulillaah.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:

"The uttering of the words: "Subhaan Allaah, Alhamdulillaah, La ilaha illAllaah and Allaahu Akbar' is dearer to me than anything over which the sun rises.'' (Muslim)

And he (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said to Abu Dardaa' radhi Allaahu anhu:

"Shall I not inform you of the best of your action which is the purest to your Rabb, which raises your status, which is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than that you meet your enemies and cut off their necks or you yourselves achieve martyrdom?''
They said, "Certainly.''
He (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said, "It is the remembrance of Allah the Exalted.'' (Tirmidhi-hasan)

And he said:

"He who utters a hundred times in a day these words: `La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli sha'in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him; His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent),' he will have a reward equivalent to that for emancipating ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be recorded to his credit, hundred of his (minor) sins will be blotted out from his scroll, and he will be safeguarded against the devil on that day till the evening; and no one will exceed him in doing more excellent good deeds except someone who has recited these words more often than him. And he who utters: `Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi (Allah is free from imperfection and His is the praise)' one hundred times a day, his sins will be obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the ocean.'' (Bukhaari and Muslim)

Subhaan Allaah!
Could anyone ask for more?

So keep yourself busy with the dhikr of Allaah and recite the morning and evening adhkaar (supplications) and other forms of dhikr prescribed from the Sunnah, while eating, drinking, sleeping, wearing clothes, going out of the house, etc. and Allaah will remember you in turn.

Besides, there is also no need for Tahaarah to remember Allaah.
You can do this even when you are cooking, cleaning, driving the kids to school, etc.

Such immense rewards for such easy tasks....Subhaan Allaah!

6. Make lots and lots of dua

Ramadhaan is the month of blessings, mercy and forgiveness.
And it is also the month for begging.
Yes, begging.

For, He is al-Kareem, the Most Generous and we are destitute.
He is the Giver and we are in desperate, desperate need of His Mercy, His Kindness, His Blessings and His Forgiveness.

So go ahead and make dua, lots and lots of it; for dua is one of the best acts of Ibaadah.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said,
“Dua is ‘Ibaadah (worship).” (Tirmidhi-saheeh by Albaani).

And don't just make dua.
Beg.
Beg for you dunya.
Beg for your Aakhirah.
Beg for yourself and for your family. And for the Ummah. Beg for every possible thing you can think of.

Spread out those hands in humble submission to the One Who gives all and sustains all from His limitless Treasures and Bounties.
Ask and He will give you.
Beg and He will suffice you.

7. Do plenty of Istighfaar:

My sister, Ramadhaan is THE month of repentance.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:

"Jibreel said to me, `May he be destroyed, the person who Ramadan comes and his sins are not forgiven,' and I said, Ameen'....."
(Saheeh al-Jaami')

Subhaan Allaah!

What better a chance to have your sins forgiven than this?

Now is your chance.

The gates of Jannah are open and the gates of Hell are shut, and the sinners’ repentance to Allaah is accepted.

So don't let this chance go by just because you are on your menses.
Make sincere repentance to Allaah and cry over your sins. He is al-Ghafoor, the Oft-Forgiver and He will forgive you.

Allaah is calling out to you and me......

"Say: “Ya ‘Ibaadi (O my slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily, Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Surah Zumar: 53)

And don't forget to make the best form of dua when seeking Laylatul Qadr.
Aaisha radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, if I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say on that night?’

He said,
‘Say:
اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني

Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’affu ‘anni

(O Allaah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me).” (Tirmidhi- saheeh)

8. Send blessings upon the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam)

Send blessings upon the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) in abundance as this is one of the greatest means of having duas answered, and is a great way of earning rewards from Allaah.

It can easily be done any time, in almost any place with no prerequisites of tahaarah.

Allaah Himself sends his blessings upon the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) and so do the angels.

And this act has been enjoined upon us by Allaah.

 Allaah says:

"Allaah and His angels praise and venerate the Prophet (Muhammad). O you who believe! Praise and venerate him (Muhammad) and pronounce peace upon him in abundance." (al-Ahzaab:56).”

9. Thank Allaah

All Praise is due to Allaah Alone, Who gives His sinful slaves a chance to earn multiple rewards, have their sins forgiven and their duas accepted.

It is only He Who gave you a chance to do this.

It is only He Who blessed you with the biggest blessing that could ever be.
And that is the blessing of Islaam.

It is He Who made you Muslim, enabled you to live to witness Ramadhaan and Who give you the opportunity to worship Him.

And even having your period is a reason for you to give thanks to Him.

So give thanks to Him from the bottom of your heart, and show your gratitude to the one Who gave you all that you possess, for this season of goodness and blessing that He has bestowed upon you, and for all the bounties and immense blessings for which He has singled you out.

10. Seek knowledge

Seeking Islaamic knowledge is one of the best forms of Ibaadah and a great source of blessings and rewards. It is the way that leads to Jannah.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:

"He who embarks on the path of seeking knowledge, Allah will ease for him the way to paradise." (Muslim)

And he said:

Allaah, His angels and all those in the heavens and in the earth, even the ants in their holes and the fish in the water, pray for those who instruct people in beneficent knowledge." (Tirmidhi)

You don't have to have Tahaarah for seeking knowledge so pick up some good books of authentic Islamic information or go on the Internet.

There are wonderful, lectures and reminders by great shuyookh as well as Imaan-boosting articles and other audio/video material where a lot can be learned.

11. Give charity

 Ibn Abbas radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) was the most generous of the people, and he used to be even more so in the month of Ramadan....he would be more generous than a swift wind (bringing rain).” (al-Bukhaari)

So give and give and give for the sake of Allaah during this month.

Be the most generous at the time of your menses and you will earn great rewards, bi idhnillaah.
Spend in the path of Allaah, feed the poor, sponsor an orphan and donate to your masjid.

Also charity is not just about money.

You can be generous with your time, with your help to someone in need, and in your manners.

So having good manners is charity and helping your non Muslim neighbor is charity and making iftar for someone is charity.

Looking after someone's young children while they can go pray at the masjid is charity and cleaning up the masjid after everyone leaves is also charity.

12. Do all kinds of good deeds

Ibaadah just isn't about praying and fasting.

It's also about how you deal with people and doing all kinds of good deeds.
So you can earn rewards and worship Allaah in your menses by serving your parents, keeping up the ties of kinship, being kind to everyone, giving dawah, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, etc. etc.

Conclusion

The bottom line, my dear sister, is that there is absolutely nothing preventing you from worshipping your Rabb and gaining tremendous rewards during the month of Ramadhaan or even at other times.

Your menses is NOT a hindrance in your path to Jannah.

All that is needed is your effort, the right good intentions and sincerity on your part. Just leave the rest to Allaah.

May Allaah accept our deeds from us and enable us to worship Him and thank Him in this month and at all times of our lives. Ameen.

6. If I Am Pregnant Or Nursing, Do I Have To Fast In Ramadhaan?

By Asma Bint Shameem

ANSWER

1. If you are pregnant or nursing and you’re strong and healthy, and the fasting does not have any detrimental effect on you or your baby in any way, then you HAVE TO FAST and there can be no excuse.

2. However, if you are pregnant or nursing and the fast will have some kind of weakening effect on you or harm you and/or the baby in any way, then it’s allowed for you to NOT fast.

The ulama say that the example of a pregnant or nursing lady is like that of a person who’s sick or a traveler and so she is allowed to break her fast.

PROOF

Allaah says in Surah al-Baqarah:

“[Observing Saum (fasts)] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days.”

And the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Allaah has relieved the traveler of half of the prayer and of the duty to fast, and He has relieved pregnant and nursing mothers (of the duty to fast).” (Abu Dawood and others- saheeh by al-Albaani)

ANOTHER QUESTION?

So if I don’t fast in Ramadhaan because of pregnancy or breastfeeding, should I make up the fast only OR feed a poor person only OR both?

ANSWER

There’s a *vast* difference of opinion among the ulama about this issue.

- Some said you ONLY need to FAST to make up the days.

- Some said you should PAY the FIDYAH ONLY (feed one poor person per day of fasting you missed)

- And some said you should do BOTH.

Ulama like Ibn Baaz and others said:

“The pregnant woman is obliged to fast during her pregnancy, unless she fears that fasting may affect her or her foetus, in which case she is allowed not to fast, and she should *make up the fasts* after she gives birth and becomes pure from nifaas.”
(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (10/226)

However other ulama like Shaikh Bazmool, Shaikh al-Albaani etc said she does NOT have to make up the fasts.

Shaikh al-Albaani said regarding this issue:

“It isn’t compulsory for them to make up the days; on the contrary, the feeding of a poor person is.

This is the correct answer ....
That’s because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said, “Indeed Allah has lifted(the obligation) of fasting from the pregnant woman and the one nursing and or suckling.

Thus the conclusion is that it is permissible for every pregnant woman and every woman nursing and/or suckling to break her fast and feed a poor person (for each missed day), and there is no making up of the days, just this (the feeding).” (Fataawa Shaikh al-Albaani)

So here comes the confusion

One group of very trustworthy ulama are telling us to make up the days.

And another group of *equally* trustworthy ulama telling us we DON’T have to make up the days; rather we just have to feed one poor person per day.

So what to do?

Perhaps what Shuyookh such as Kareem Abu Zayd and Salah as-Sawy said shows us the MIDDLE ground.

Shaikh Salah as-Sawy said after discussing the different opinions on the subject:

“Some scholars are of the opinion that if many missed days accumulate on a woman due to unbroken excuses, e.g. unbroken (continuous) pregnancy, and breast-feeding for many years, then she is EXEMPTED from making up for the missed days, and she should only feed poor person(s).

However, it would be PRUDENT to make up for the missed days when the excuse ceases to exist, and she is able to fast.

Nonetheless, if the missed days ACCUMULATE to the extent you become unable to make up for them, then the *obligation to MAKE UP for missed days TURN INTO FEEDING.*” (AMJA Fatwa# 79980)

So in other words

1. IF you’re able to fast *easily* during your pregnancy and/or breastfeeding, you should fast.

2. If you can’t fast while pregnant or nursing, BUT you ARE ABLE to EASILY make these days up *later*, then it’s BETTER to make them up JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.

3. If it’s *difficult* for you to make up the fasts later and/or a LOT of fasts have accumulated for you, then you DO NOT have to make up the days.

Rather just pay the fidyah and feed one person for each day that you missed.

And Allaah knows best.

5. Fasting And The Doctor's Office

By Asma bint Shameem

1. Can I get a blood test done while fasting?

YES. Drawing a few vials of blood for testing purposes does NOT invalidate the fast because the blood is only a small amount.
If it was a larger amount like in cupping, donating blood, etc. then that would break the fast.

2. Injections?
Any type of injection whether intravenous or intramuscular, are ALLOWED during fasting EXCEPT those injections that will provide nourishment to the body and act indirectly as food and give energy.

3. Eyedrops? Ear drops?

It’s allowed to use any of these.

Just avoid swallowing anything if it reaches the throat.

4. Nose drops or sprays?

Nose drops usually reach the back of the throat, so it’s not allowed to use nasal drops while fasting.

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“Nose drops are not permissible, because the nose is an opening through which food and drink may enter the body. Hence the Prophet
Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
“Snuff water up into the nose deeply, UNLESS you are fasting.”
The one who does that has to make up the fast because of this hadeeth and similar reports, if he finds the taste of that in his throat.”

5. Ultrasound?

Ultrasound and X-ray by themselves don't have any effect on the fast itself. BUT if the ultrasound test requires that you drink a lot of water before the test then if you can delay the test till after Ramadhaan that's better. Or at least delay it until after maghrib if possible.
BUT if it's something urgent, then you're allowed to break your fast for that day if you need to drink water for the test.

6. At the gynecologist's office

Pap smears, gynecological exams, insertion or extraction of IUD etc do NOT invalidate the fast.

And ghusl is NOT due after such procedures.

7. At the dentist's office

Tooth extractions, root canals, fillings, cleaning, polishing the teeth etc. do NOT invalidate the fast.

Just be careful not to swallow any water or rinsing material used during the procedure.

And of course if you can delay it till after Ramadhaan, that’s better.

8. Fasting and inhalers

If someone suffers from asthma or other diseases where inhalers are used, they’re allowed to use it and this does not break their fast.

That’s because the medicine is going into their lungs and not into the stomach.

9. Fasting and sublingual medicines

Any medicine that’s placed under the tongue (such as for chest pain, etc) is allowed during fasting as it’s absorbed through the membrane of the mouth and does not enter the stomach.

And Allaah knows best.

Reference: "Seventy Matters of Fasting" by Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid, Islaamic Fiqh Council.

4. Praying Taraaweeh At Home

By Asma bint Shameem

Sure it’s good that we pray Taraaweeh in the masjid in Jama’ah.

But sometimes we’re not able to do that for various reasons.

So how can we pray this beautiful Sunnah prayer at home?

Since Taraaweeh prayer is a kind of Night Prayer or Qiyaam al-Layl, we should read these rak’aat two by two as per the hadeeth.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

*"The night prayers are two by two”*(al-Bukhaari)

How many rak’aat should I pray?*

You can pray from two rak’aat to as many as you like.

That’s because there’s no ‘limit’ to the Night prayers.

When a man asked the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam about the night prayer, (in the hadeeth above), he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did not specify a fixed number for the Night prayer; rather he left the matter open.

QUESTION
I only know small surahs. How can I read MORE of the Qur’aan?

Just because we’re not going to the masjid and not reading behind an Imaam does not mean that we can’t read the 
longer Surahs of the Qur’aan in our Taraaweeh at home.

Alhamdulillaah there’s a beautiful way to read as much Qur’aan in our Taraaweeh as we want.

How?

Read from the Mus-haf DIRECTLY.

Just hold the Mus-haf or *place it on a table or something* in front of you and read as much of it as you want in each rak’ah, directly from the Book.

Maybe you can read one page in one rak’ah and the second page in the second rak’ah.
Or read a bit more than that or a bit less; whatever Allaah enables you to do.

This way, you get to read Taraaweeh AND read more of the Qur’aan at the same time Alhamdulillaah.

It’s perfectly ok to read directly from the Qur’aan in non-obligatory Salah.

Someone asked Imaam az-Zuhri about reading from the Mus-haf in Ramadhaan.

He said:
“The best ones among us used to read from the Mus-hafs…”

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“The Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate that Qur’aan should be recited in prayer, whether it is from the Mus-haf or from memory. It was proven that ‘Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa
told her freed slave Dhakwaan to lead her in praying qiyaam in Ramadhaan, and he used to read from the Mus-haf. Al-Bukhaari mentioned this in his Saheeh… “
(Fataawa Islaamiyah, vol.2 – Shaykh Ibn Baaz)

QUESTION

But I heard that too much movement like picking up the Mus-haf or turning the pages etc, will invalidate the prayer!

That is a weak opinion.
And the stronger and correct opinion is that it’s allowed to read from the Mus-haf directly in prayer.

How can I say that?

Proof:

1. Our Mother Aaisha radhi Allaahu anhaa used to do that.

Imaam al-Bukhaari said:

"Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa had a slave who used to lead her in prayer in Ramadhaan, *reading from the Mus’haf."
[al-Bukhaari (1/245)]

If it was good enough for Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa, then it’s good enough for us.

Imaam az-Zuhri said about reading from the Mus-haf in Ramadhaan.

“The BEST ones among us used to read from the*
*Mus-hafs…”

Imaam an-Nawawi said:

“If he reads from the Mus-haf that does not invalidate his prayer, whether he had memorized it or not.
Rather he *should* do that if he has not memorized al-Faatihah, and if he turns the pages sometimes whilst praying that does not invalidate his prayer. … This is our view and the view of Maalik, Abu Yoosuf, Muhammad and Ahmad.”
(al-Majmoo’, 4/27)

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“The Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate that *Qur’aan should be recited in prayer, whether it is from the Mus-haf or from memory.*
It was proven that ‘Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa told her freed slave Dhakwaan to lead her in praying qiyaam in Ramadhaan, and he used to read from the Mus-haf. Al-Bukhaari mentioned this in his Saheeh… “
(Fataawa Islaamiyah, vol.2 – Shaykh Ibn Baaz)

2. Moving the pages and picking up the Mus-haf does NOT invalidate the prayer.

Proof

Abu Qutaadah al-Ansaari radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“The Messenger of Allaah
Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam
used to pray whilst he was carrying Umaamah, the daughter of Zaynab bint Rasool-Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.
*“when he prostrated he put her down, and when he stood up he picked her up.”*
(al-Bukhaari 494 and Muslim 543).

Surely picking up a child while praying and then putting her down for sujood is MUCH MORE movement than simply flipping a page. Or picking up a Mus-haf.

And if the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam picked up a child and put her down every time he went into sujood, then that *proves* that such movement does NOT invalidate the prayer.

Besides, if there’s such an issue, a person can easily avoid ALL movements by opening the Mus-haf to a particular page that he wants to recite, then place it on a table in front of him.

Then he can read the page on the right side for the first rak’ah and read the page on the left In the second Rak’ah.
This way he doesn’t move even an inch “unnecessarily” and yet he gets to read from the Mus-haf directly.

Conclusion
So whether it’s Sunnah or Nafl, go ahead and open the Mus-haf and read directly from it.
And benefit from the Book of Allaah.

May Allaah accept our ibaadaat, our duaas, our Taubah. Ameen.

And Allaah knows best.

3. Is It Permissible For A Young Son To lead In Fardh Or Taraweeh?

By Asma bint Shameem

Yes. It is permissible for a young boy to lead adults in obligatory or Taraaweeh prayers.

It doesn’t matter if the young boy is under the age of puberty.
As long as he knows the basic rulings about tahaarah, Salaah etc., it is permissible for him to lead the prayer.

Proof

‘Amr ibn Salamah said:

“I used to memorize those words – meaning the Qur’aan – and it was as if it took root in my heart.
When Makkah was conquered, then every tribe hastened to embrace Islaam, and my father urged our tribe to hasten to embrace Islaam.

When my father returned (from the Prophet) to his tribe, he said,

‘By Allaah, I have come to you from the true Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam!’

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam afterwards said to them,

‘Offer such-and-such a prayer at such-and-such a time, and when the time for the prayer becomes due, then one of you should pronounce the Adhaan (for the prayer), and let the one amongst you who knows most Qur’aan lead the prayer.’

So they looked for such a person and found none who knew more Qur'aan than I, because of what I used to learn from the people.

So they made me their Imaam (to lead the prayer) and *at that time I was a boy of SIX or SEVEN YEARS.”*
(al-Bukhaari, 4051)

This proves that even a young boy, as little as six or seven years of age can lead the prayer.

But he should know the rulings on Salaah, tahaarah, etc. because in case he makes a mistake, he should know how to handle the situation.

And actually it might even be *“recommended”* for a young boy to lead the prayer because sometimes it so happens that the father is not that well-versed in Tajweed or memorization of the Qur’aan.

But he has a young son who is memorizing the Qur’aan and has learnt the proper Tajweed rules.

In such cases it would be BETTER for the son to lead the family in prayer even though he is young under the age of puberty.

 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The people should be led in prayer by the one who has the most knowledge of the Book of Allaah; if they are equal in knowledge of the Qur’aan, then by the one who has most knowledge of the Sunnah.”
(Saheeh Muslim, 1530)

This will also establish the importance of prayer in the young boy’s heart, train him to lead prayers in the future, and help build confidence in him.

A woman asked Shaikh Salih al-Munajjid if her young son can lead her in prayer.

He said:

“The evidence to be found in the hadeeth is that these Sahaabah asked ‘Amr ibn Salamah to lead them in prayer when he was six or seven years old.

This indicates that a boy who has reached the age of discernment can lead the prayers.

If that were not permitted, there would have been Revelation to say that it was not allowed.

If your son fulfils all the conditions and obligations of the prayer, then there is nothing wrong with him leading you.”
(Islamqa Fatwa # 9933)

And the prayer of those praying behind him would be valid.

And Allaah knows best

2. Is Your Fasting Complete?

By Asma bint Shameem

What if you hire someone to do something for you, but they only do PART of the job and leave the rest incomplete?

Will you recompense them fully for a job completed?

And what do you think a teacher would say if a student turns in only some of his homework and fails to do the rest of it? Will he get full marks for it?

And what about a child who is supposed to clean his whole room, but he only cleans HALF of it? 

Do you think he did what was required of him? Would you reward him for a job well done?

The answer to all of the above is an obvious NO.

That's because they did not complete what they were supposed to do and only did part of it. And thus they do not deserve to be fully rewarded.

Similarly, my dear sister, is the case when you fast but you don't wear hijaab.

Do you realize, dear sister, that by not wearing hijaab, you are only doing PART of the job and not doing whole of it?

You see, just as much as fasting is a fardh (obligation) on you, in like manner, the hijaab is *also, just as equally, FARDH on you.

The One Who made the FAST an obligation on you and me is the same Rabb, Who also made the HIJAAB an obligation on you and me.

Allaah says:

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. over themselves) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women, or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigor, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful"
[al-Noor 24:31]

There are so many other ayaat and so many authentic ahaadeeth that clearly order believing women to cover themselves.

Do you not want to be one of them?

Don't you want to obey the One who created you, gave you life, food, health, family, friends and everything that you know and don't know of ??!!

Masha Allaah, you work SO hard in Ramadhaan!

You wake up for suhoor, you fast all day, you take care of your family.

You cook, you clean, you do all your chores.

You are tired yet you stand at night for Taraaweeh.

You're exhausted, yet you take time out to read the Qur'an.
May Allaah accept all your good deeds and sincere effort.

But, my dear sister, do you realize that by not observing hijaab, you only get part of the reward of all your hard work and not 100 percent of it?

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

"If a woman does not wear hijaab, then she is disobeying her Lord thereby, but her fast is still valid, because sins, including not wearing hijaab, do not invalidate the fast, but they detract from its reward, and may cause it to be lost altogether."

Realize, dear sister, that not wearing hijaab is a major sin and sins may take away some or all of the reward, and the fasting person may be left with nothing from his fast apart from hunger and thirst.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"It may be that the fasting person gets nothing from his fast apart from hunger, and it may be that the one who prays qiyaam at night may get nothing from his qiyaam but a sleepless night."
(Ibn Majah-authentic)

And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

"Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allaah has no need of his giving up his food and drink." (al-Bukhaari)

Imagine! All that hard work.....all that effort you put into fasting, and some of it or even all of it may be lost!
What a terrible loss indeed!

And just because you didn't cover yourself the way your Rabb, your Creator, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, ordered you to.

Do remember, that the purpose of fasting is not just to give up food and drink, but to *attain piety*.

The real aim is to *stay away from sins* and those deeds that displease Allaah.

And to *train oneself to OBEY Allaah and SUBMIT to Him.*

 Allaah says:

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain piety"
[al-Baqarah 2:183]

So submit to Allaah fully. Obey Him in wearing hijaab, just like you obey Him in fasting and praying.

Don't let the Shaytaan keep you away from getting full reward for all your hard work in Ramadhaan.

Let your fasting motivate you to obey Allaah and keep away from that which He has forbidden.

Use this perfect chance for you to start wearing hijaab....
No, not from tomorrow.....but from today.

Don't say you're not ready.

Do it NOW.

BEFORE Ramadhaan starts.

What a beautiful way to start a beautiful month....with the obedience of Allaah!

Objection

Some sisters might say...

“Hijaab is my choice, my right, my life.”

CORRECTION Sister!

It’s NOT your choice, your right, your life.

Hijaab is your DUTY, Allaah’s COMMAND and your AAKHIRAH!

Do remember, my dear sister:

"And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger, he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. saved from Hell-fire and admitted to Jannah)"
(al-Ahzaab 33:71)

Conditions of Hijaab

There are certain conditions that have to be met for the clothes of a woman to be appropriate according to our Deen.

Shaikh al-Albaani outlines them:

1. It should cover all the head and body, apart from whatever has been exempted (meaning face and hands).

2. It should not be an adornment in and of itself.

3. The material should be thick and not transparent or “see-through"

4. It should be loose, not tight so that it describes any part of the body

5. It should not be perfumed with fragrance.

6. It should not resemble the clothing of men.

7. It should not resemble the dress of non-Muslim women.

8 It should not be a garment of fame and vanity.

And Allaah knows best.

1. Preparing For An Amazing Ramadhaan

By Asma Bint Shameem

Imagine.

Someone really, really important is coming to visit you. 

Surely, you would cook, clean, shop, prepare and plan everything for them, well ahead of time. 

You would make sure they are comfortable and well taken care of.

You would ascertain that everything is perfectly ready and adequately in place before they arrive.

Now imagine someone coming to visit you that is even more important than that....more precious, more valuable, more honorable. Wouldn't you prepare even more and give it the best you got?

Well, the best month of the year, the most blessed and most precious, is coming up.

The month that brings the fragrance of Jannah and the sweetness of Imaan....the tears of Taubah and the forgiveness of your Lord....

And it's bringing with it a night that is equivalent in worship and reward, to more than a thousand months.

Wouldn't you want to prepare for that?

Wouldn't you want to be ready for it with all your heart and soul so that you don't miss this great opportunity?

They say the more prepared you are for something, the easier it is for you to handle it and the greater the chances that you will be successful at it.

And what better opportunity to prepare for something than preparing for the blessed month of Ramadhaan.

This is a month of Rahmah and Barakah, a month of taubah and istighfaar, a great opportunity for training oneself... to give up your bad deeds and build on your good ones.

So what to do?

1. Mental Preparation

Prepare yourself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually for this great month.

Be *really EXCITED* for this upcoming month and be *absolutely determined* to do your *utmost BEST* and *exert* yourself for this magnificent month of Forgiveness and Mercy from your Lord.

RACE with one another and compete with each other for it!

Come on!

Be excited. Be energized. Get electrified!

Get all pumped up and feel vitalized.

After all, this is a time when the gates of Jannah are all open. W..I..D..E open...

And all the gates of Jahannum are closed.

Yes, alhamdulillaah CLOSED.

And here is a chance for you to get all your sins forgiven.

Get invigorated and motivated.

Realize that the month of Ramadhaan is a month of amazing ibaadah and intense dua, astounding khushoo' and remarkable hope, sincere taubah and extraordinary istighfaar.

And it is NOT a month of laziness or sleeping, cooking and feasting, or just being plain grouchy and irritable.

Don't let the thought of the heat or the long day get to you or dampen your spirit.

It is only the Shaytaan trying to play with your mind and spoil this wonderful time for you.

2. Purify your intention

The next thing to do is to purify your niyyah from NOW.

You are going to fast because it is the ORDER of Allaah and NOT because it is culture or your family does so, or even because you want to lose weight.

Fasting is a deed absolutely loved by Allaah and you want to PLEASE Him.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

"O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa" [al-Baqarah, 2:183]

3. The Qur'aan and You

Have full intention from now, to read as much of the Qur'aan as you can.

LOVE the Qur'aan. Build a *close* relationship with it. Realize that these are the Words of your Lord....Words that will take you to Jannah, your Ultimate Goal.

Don't just read it with your eyes.

Read it with your HEART.

Let it sink into your very SOUL.

*Savor* the joy and *cherish* the delight in reading the Book of Allaah.

*Taste* the sweetness of Imaan.

Don't be in a rush to quickly finish the reading.

Rather, take your time to ponder over the words and understand the meanings.

Don't think..."when am I going to finish this Surah?

Rather ask....when am I going to *implement* this in my life?"

Remember, nothing is sweeter and more pleasurable than the ayaat of the Qur'aan that you can understand.

4. Lots of Sujood

Prepare yourself to do plenty of sujood....long, drawn out sujood, in Taraweeh and Tahajjud.

Feel *close* to your Rabb when you do that sajdah.

Realize that this is most HONORABLE position for you...placing the thing you value most, *your head*, on the ground, humbled before your Creator.

You are the slave and He is the Ultimate Master.

You are the 'abd and He is your Owner.

5. Dua, Dua and more Dua

Resolve from *today*, to make a LOT of dua.

Make a dua list.

Prepare it from now.

And when you sit down to break your fast, or when you stand in front of your Creator in Salah, in Taraaweeh or in the middle of the night, or any time during the night or day, spread out those hands and ask al-Kareem, the Most Generous, the One Who gives to one and to all.

Make sincere, heartfelt dua whenever and wherever you can.
Don't let a moment slip by. And don't forget to be thankful to the One Who gave you everything.

6. True repentance

Be ready from now to do abundant istighfaar, lots and lots of it.

Do it every single day.

In the darkness of the night, when the whole world is asleep, have full realization, that this is no ordinary time, no time to waste away sleeping.

Ar-Rahmaan is calling. Wouldn't you want to respond??

So knock on the door of the Almighty. He is al-Ghafoor, the Oft-Forgiver and you are nothing....just a weak and sinful human being.

Bend your head with shame, and cry....

Cry like you've never cried before....

Ask for His forgiveness.

Make firm resolve never, ever, to go back to your sins...never, ever to do those bad deeds again.

Go ahead...spread out those hands and be sincere and then be certain He will surely respond....

7. Determination to change for the better

Most importantly, have FIRM DETERMINATION from this moment on, to continue all the good deeds and habits that you will develop during Ramadhaan to continue even after Ramadhaan is over.

Remember, you are not a good Muslim just during a special month of the year. Rather you are a Muslim THROUGHOUT the three hundred and sixty five days.

Use the upcoming month of taqwa and training to coach and develop your nafs, to cultivate virtuous deeds and actions and to give up your bad ones.

Tell me, are you going to let all that hard work of fasting, waking up in the middle of the night, reading all that Qur'aan, standing up for Taraaweeh and prayers, and all that dua go to waste???

Other tips

1. Make a schedule or time-table for all your activities during Ramadhaan and write it down.
Allocate specific times for reading Qur'aan, waking up for tahajjud, cooking, sleeping, etc and stick to it.

You will find you have much more time at hand now that you are organized about your activities.

2. Get to know the rules of fasting from NOW, so that your fasting can be closest to the Sunnah and thus be more beloved and acceptable to Allaah.

3. CLARIFY any doubts that you may have and don't be afraid to ask a scholar.

4. CLEANSE your heart of any anger, hatred, grudges, etc from now.

And forgive EVERYONE.

That's because forgiveness is delayed for the one who has anger and grudge against his Muslim brother/sister.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:

"The gates of Paradise are opened on Monday and Thursday, and everyone who does not associate anything with Allaah is forgiven, except a man who has had an argument with his brother. It is said: 'Wait for these two until they reconcile, wait for these two until they reconcile, wait for these two until they reconcile." (Muslim)

5. FINISH up on your Ramadhaan and Eid preparation, cooking, shopping, etc. from NOW so that you can free up all the time during Ramadhaan for Ibaadah.

6. If you are like most people who give their zakat during Ramadhaan, get it all calculated and worked out BEFORE the month starts.

7. DO NOT spend all day in the kitchen.

Remember this is a month of FASTING, not *FEASTING*.

Our focus should be on fasting and Ibaadah, not on food.

Conclusion

To conclude, think positive and have firm resolve.

Strive with all your effort to do your best so that this will be an amazing, awe-inspiring, heart-stopping experience of a lifetime....

Your best Ramadhaan EVER!

Set your goals at the highest.

Don't settle for anything less than JANNAH!

May Allaah enable us to make this our best Ramadhaan, one that is accepted by Him and He is pleased with. Ameen.

And Allaah knows best.

May Allaah enable us to make this our best Ramadhaan, one that is accepted by Him and He is pleased with. Ameen.

And Allaah knows best.

88. Gate of Repentance is Open Repent Before Its Too Late

O slave of Allah, Allah has opened the gate of repentance for you, so why not enter it?

It was reported that repentance has a gate whose width is like the distance between East and West [according to another report: its width is like the distance travelled in seventy years]. It will not be closed until the sun rises from the West. (Reported by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer; see Sahih al-Jaami’, 2177).

Listen to the call of Allaah: “O My slaves, you err night and day, but I forgive all sins, so ask Me for forgiveness and I will forgive you.” (Reported by Muslim).

So why not seek forgiveness?

Allah stretches forth His hand at night to forgive those who have done wrong during the day, and He stretches forth His hand by day to forgive those who have done wrong during the night.

 Allah loves our apologies and pleas, so why not turn to Him? 

How beautiful to Allah are the words of the one who repents: 
“O Allah, I ask You by Your power and by my own shame to have mercy on me. I ask You by Your strength and my own weakness, by Your self-sufficiency and my own dependence. To You I submit my lying, sinful forelock. You have many slaves besides me, but I have no Master except You. I have no refuge or escape from You except with You. I beseech you in the manner of a poor and destitute man, I pray to you with the prayer of one who is humble, I call upon you with the supplication of one who is blind and afraid. This is a plea from one whose head is humbled before You, whose nose is in the dust, whose eyes are filled with tears and whose heart has submitted to You.”

It was reported that one of the righteous people was passing through the street when he saw an open door out of which came a boy who was crying and weeping, followed by his mother who was pushing him out. She shut the door in his face, and went back inside. The boy went a short distance away, and stood there, thinking, but he could find no other refuge than the house from which he had been expelled and no one else who would care for him as his mother would. Broken hearted, he went back, and found the door still locked. So he lay down on the doorstep and went to sleep, with the tear marks still streaking his face. A little while later, his mother came out. When she saw him in this state, she could not help herself. She embraced him, kissed him and started to weep, saying: “O my son, where did you go? Who would care for you except me? Didn’t I tell you not to disobey me and not to make me punish you, when Allah has made me merciful and caring towards you?” Then she picked him up and went back inside.

But the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam told us: 
“Allah is more compassionate towards His slaves than this mother towards her child.” (Reported by Muslim).

There is no comparison between a mother’s compassion and the Mercy of Allah, which encompasses everything. Allah rejoices when His slave repents to Him, and we can never despair of goodness from a Lord who is rejoices.

Allah rejoices more over the repentance of a slave when he repents to Him than a man who was travelling through the wilderness and stopped to camp awhile in an isolated and dangerous place, but he had his camel by his side, with his food and drink loaded on it. He sought out the shade of a tree, where he lay down and went to sleep. When he woke up, his camel had disappeared, so he went looking for it. He came to a hill and climbed it, but he could not see anything. He climbed another hill and looked around, but he could not see anything. When heat and thirst overcame him, he said: “Let me go back to where I was and sleep there until I die.” He went back to the tree and lay down in its shade, despairing of ever seeing his camel again. Whilst he was lying there, he opened his eyes, and saw his camel standing next to him, with its halter dangling and his food and drink still loaded on it, so he grabbed hold of its halter. Allah rejoices even more when the believer repents to Him than this man rejoiced over the return of his camel and his supplies.”

(Compiled from saheeh reports; see Tarteeb Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4/368)

You should know that sincere repentance brings contrition and humility before Allah, and the pleading of the one who repents is dearly beloved to the Lord of the Worlds.

The believing slave still remembers his sin, and is filled with sorrow and regret. He follows his error with so many acts of obedience and goodness that Shaytaan may even say, “Would that I had never led him into this sin in the first place!”

Thus some of those who repent may become better after repenting than they ever were before.

Allah will never forsake His slave who turns to Him in repentance.

Imagine a boy living with his father, who gives him the best food and drink, dresses him in the finest clothes, gives him the best possible upbringing, and gives him money to spend. He takes care of all the boy’s interests. But one day his father sends him on an errand, and an enemy comes and captures the boy, ties him up and carries him off to enemy territory. Now the way he is treated is the opposite of the kind treatment his father gave him. Whenever he remembers his father’s kindness, his heart is filled with anguish and grief because of the blessings that he has lost. It so happens that while he is still a prisoner of the enemy, and about to be executed by them, he suddenly turns towards his father’s home, and he sees his father standing nearby. He runs to him and throws himself into his arms, crying “O my father, O my father! Look what has happened to your son!” with tears streaming down his cheeks. He clings tightly to his father even though the enemy runs after him to snatch him back, and catches up with him.

Do you think the father will give the boy back to the enemy and abandon him?

What then do you think of One Who is more merciful towards His slaves than any father or mother towards a child?

How do you think Allah will respond when a slave flees from his enemies and throws himself at His door, rolling in the dust and weeping, saying “O Lord, have mercy upon the one who has no one to show him mercy except You, no supporter except You, no place of refuge except You, no helper except You, one who is poor and in need of You, one who beseeches You. You are his place of refuge, You are his Source of protection. There is no escape or refuge from You except with You…”?

Let us move on, then, to good and righteous deeds, to the company of righteous people, to avoiding deviation after having been guided aright. May Allaah be with us.