[Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be Learnt from Ramadhan: Sensing Muslim Unity

Excerpt from

Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan

Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.5, Jan 1997

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From the many important lessons to be learnt from fasting are:

[5]: SENSING MUSLIM UNITY
The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Fast when they fast, and break your fast when they break their fast, and sacrifice the day they sacrifice.”19

Imam at-Tirmidhi (d.275H) – rahimahullah – said:
“Some of the People of Knowledge explained this hadith by saying: Its meaning is to fast and break the fast along with the jama’ah and the majority of people.”20

Thus, in this blessed month we can sense an increased feeling of unity and of being a single Ummah due to our fasting and breaking our fast collectively. We also feel an increased awareness about the state of affairs of the Muslims and of the hardships that they endure, because: “During the fast, a Muslim feels and experiences what his needy and hungry brothers and sisters feel, who are forced to go without food and drink for many many days – as occurs today to many of the Muslims in Africa.”21

Indeed, the units of the Muslims – and their aiding and assisting one another – is one of the great fundamentals upon which the Religion of Islam is built, as Allah – the Mort High – said: “And hold fast altogether to the rope of Allah and do not be divided.” [Surah al-'lmran 3:103]. Allah – the Most High – also said: “The Believers – men and women – and friends and protectors to one another.” [Surah al-Towbah 9:44].

Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H)- rahimahullah – said:
“The welfare of people will not be complete – neither in this world, nor in the Hereafter – except with ijtima’ (collectiveness), ta’awun (mutual cooperation), and tanasur (mutual help); mutual-co-operation in order to secure benefits, and mutual help in order to ward off harm. It is for this reason that man is said to be social and civil by nature.”22

Source: Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan

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Your Assignment
The above excerpt identifies some goals for us during Ramadhan. We have all heard about the drought and famine in East Africa (Somilia). What can you do to help? What every day comforts will you give up to have money to help the starving? Coffee from your local coffee house that costs $2+ a cup? Wasting dollars on electricity from un-necessary lights, computers, air conditioning temperature controls?

And keep the Muslims in Pakistan still need help from last year’s major flooding event. The region is still struggling with insufficient water, food, clothing, and housing.

You can choose any of these to set as goals for Ramadhan.

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Up Next– bi’ithnillah, [Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan: Conclustion
Previously,  [Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be Learnt from Ramadhan: Good Manners

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Footnotes
19. Related by at-Tirmidhi (no.693), form Abu Hurayrah radiallahu ‘anhu. It was authenticated by al-Albani in as-Sahihah (no.224).
20. Jami’ut-Tirmidhi (3/312).
21. From the words of Shaykh ‘Abdul-’Aziz bin Baz, as occurs in Majmu’ Fatawa wa Maqalat Mutanawwi’ah (5/211).
22. Al-Hisba fil-Islam (p.9) of Shaykhul-lslam Ibn Taymiyyah.

[Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be Learnt from Ramadhan: Good Manners

[Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be Learnt from Ramadhan: Good Manners

Excerpt from

Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan

Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.5, Jan 1997

________

From the many important lessons to be learnt from fasting are:

[3]: CULTIVATING GOOD MANNERS
The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Whosoever doer not abandon falsehood in speech and action, then Allah the Mighty and Majestic has no need that he should leave his food and drink.”14

He sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said:
“Fasting is not merely abstaining from eating and drinking. Rather, it is also abstaining from ignorant and indecent speech. So if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then ray: I am fasting, I am fasting.”15

There narrations point towards the importance of truthfulness and good manners. Thus, this blessed month teacher us not only to abstain from food and drink, but to also abstain from such statements and actions that may be the cause of harming people and violating their rights – since the Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said whilst describing the true Believer: “A Muslim is one from whom other Muslims are safe from his tongue and his hand.”16

Thus it is upon us as individuals, to examine the shortcomings in our character, and to then seek to improve them – modelling ourselves upon the character of the last of the Prophets and Messengers, and their leader, Muhammad sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – aspiring also for the excellence which he mentioned in his saying: “I am a guarantor for a house on the outskirts of Paradise for whosoever leaves off arguing, even if he is in the right; and a house in the centre of Paradise for whosoever abandons falsehood, even when joking; and a house in the upper-mort part of Paradise for whosoever makes his character good.”17

So by shunning oppression, shamelessness, harbouring hatred towards Muslims, back-biting, slandering, tale-carrying, and other types of falsehood, we can be saved from nullifying the rewards of our fasting – as Allah’s Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “It may be that a fasting person receives nothing from his fast, except hunger and thirst.”18

Source: Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan

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Your Assignment
The above excerpt identifies several goals dealing with our character and good manners such as not lying, not backbiting ridding ourselves of harboring hatred towards Muslims. You can choose any of these to set as goals for Ramadhan.

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Up Next– bi’ithnillah, [Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan: Cultivating Good Manners
Previously, [Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be Learnt from Ramadhan: Seeking Nearness to Allah

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Footnotes
14. Related by al-Bukhari (4/99), from Abu Hurayrah radiallahu ‘anhu.
15. Sahih: Related by Ibn Khuzaymah (no.1996) and aI-Hakim (1/430) who authenticated it. Refer to Sahihut-Targhib (no.1075).
16. Related by al-Bukhari (1/53) and Muslim (no.40), from ‘Amr ibn al-as radiallahu ‘anhu.
17. Sahih: Related by Abu Dawud (no.4800) and al-Bayhaqi (10/249), from Abu Umamah radiallahu ‘anhu. It was authenticated by al-Albani in as-Sahihah (n0.273).
18. Sahih: Related by Ahmad (2/441) and Ibn Majah (1/139), from Abu Hurayrah radiallahu ‘anhu. It was authenticated in Sahihut-Targhib (no.1076).

[Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be Learnt from Ramadhan: Acquiring Patience

Excerpt from

Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan

Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.5, Jan 1997

________

From the many important lessons to be learnt from fasting are:

[3]: ACQUIRING PATIENCE
The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“The month of Patience, and the three days of every month, are times for fasting.” 9

Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr (d.464H)- rahimahullah – said:
“What is meant by the month of Patience is the month of Ramadhan … So fasting is called patience because it restrains the soul from eating, drinking, conjugal relations and sexual desires.” 11

He sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“O youths! Whoever amongst you is able to marry, then let him do so; for it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts. But whoever is unable, then let him fast, because it will be a shield for him.” 12

So fasting is a means of learning self restraint and patience. With patience we are able to strengthen our resolve to worship Allah alone, with sincerity, and also cope with life’s ups and downs. So – for example – with patience we are able to perform our Prayers calmly and correctly, without being hasty, and without merely pecking the ground several times! With patience we are able to restrain our souls from greed and stinginess and thus give part of our surplus wealth in Zakah (obligatory charity). With patience we are able to subdue the soul’s ill temperament, and thus endure the ordeal and hardships of Hajj, without losing tempers and behaving badly. Likewise, with patience we are able to stand firm and fight jihad against the disbelievers, hypocrites and heretics – withstanding their constant onslaught, without wavering and buckling, without despairing or being complacent, and without becoming hasty and impatient at the first signs of hardship. Allah – the Most High – said: “O Prophet, urge the Believers to fight … So if there are one hundred who are patient, they shall overcome two hundred; and if there be one thousand, they shall overcome two thousand, by the permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient ones.” [Surah al-Anfal 8:65-66].

Thus, without knowledge and patience, nothing remains, except zeal and uncontrolled emotions, shouts and hollow slogans, speech that doer not strengthen, but rather weakens, and actions that do not build, but rather destroy! So in this month, we should strive to develop a firm resolve for doing acts of obedience, and to adorn ourselves with patience – having certainty in the saying of our Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship.”

Source: Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan

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Your Assignment
The above excerpt identified how we should do acts of obedience and what we should adorn ourselves with. You can choose any of these to set as goals for this upcoming Ramadhan.

Research the term “firm resolve”. Ask the people of knowledge what this means religiously. Take notes. Does it describe you? Did you ask how to attain this characteristic?

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Up Next– bi’ithnillah, [Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan: Cultivating Good Manners
Previously, [Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be Learnt from Ramadhan: Seeking Nearness to Allah

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Imam Ahmad (d.241H) – rahimahullah – said:
“Allah has mentioned sabr (patience) in over ninety places in His Book.” — Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in Madarijus-Salikin (2/152).

Footnotes
9. Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in Madarijus-Salikin (2/152).
10. Related by Ahmad (2/261) and an-Nasa’i (1/327). from Abu Hurayrah. It was authentitated by al-Albani in Irwa’ul-Ghalil (4/99).
11. At-Tamhid (19/61) of AI-Hafidh Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr.
12. Related by al-Bukhari (123) and Muslim (no.123), from Ibn Mas’ud radiallahu ‘anhu.

[Setting Goals] Surah Luqman Memorization Challenge

A couple of years back, a sister posed a challenge to all of us. She gave me permission to include this challenge here.

The challenge is to memorize Surah Luqman during the month of Ramadhaan.

You will need a memorization buddy. It can be someone local, or long distance. Having a partner helps tremendously as the two of you can encourage each other and also listen to each other recite. You and your friend will also test (listen to) each other every 7th day. If your challenge-friend is far away, schedule telephone or voice chat sessions. At the end of the month, give your partner a gift.

And to help you be more successful, the sis put together a wonderful package of printouts. Printing on pastel-colored paper (like yellow or green) gives the eye a little bit of color stimulation; some people find this more helpful than the usual white printer paper.

You will also need an audio source of Surah Luqman. You can find plenty of reciters online if you need help with the Arabic. Choose a slower-pace recitation; one that is geared towards memorization.

Transliteration of Surah Luqman (pdf)

Complete 30-Day Memorization Schedule (pdf)

 

[Setting Goals] Things to Do Before Ramadhan Begins

Last Friday (Jul 22, 2011) Sh. Mohammad al-Malki –Imam/Khateeb of Masjid Al Baraa bin Malik, King Abdul Azeez International Airport Residential Complex– delivered a khutbah that is full of goals we need to make and do before Ramadhan begins!

• Khutbah Title: The Advices of the Salaf in Regard to Ramadhan
  The English translation begins at – 49 Minutes and lasts over 1 hour.
  Click play button below

Visit these links to listen to Sh. al-Malki Paltalk Room ilmforall Know Islam or WizIQ room.

• Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/IlmForAll_KnowIslam/
• Website: www.ilmforall.net/
• WizIQ: ilmforall-shaikh-mohammad-al-malki1075303

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Your Assignment

• Listen to the audio.
• Commit to follow the advices given.
• Place reminders of your committment on your calendar, planner, or put it in your mobile device.
  

[Printable] Easy Daily Journaling Technique

Some people find that keeping a journal takes too much work or time. But they would like a simple way to record events.

There is another option for daily journaling. It’s a combination of the daily summary and the topic journal. I call it Focused-Line-a-Day journaling!

--click to enlarge image--

You can see a sample of this type of journal page in the image to the left. The entire month’s journal fits onto one page! You can download it below.

Focused-Line-a-Day is truly simple. Each day write one sentence only about a specific topic.

Journal Topic Suggestions
Here are some topic ideas to write one daily sentence about during Ramadhan . . .

• Your health
• What you read
• The weather
• How you feel
• Your progress/benefits/thoughts on a Ramadhan goal
• What you liked about Ramadhan today
• Your cherished memory of the day
• The effect of fasting on _______ (you choose the fill-in-the-blank part)

If you have your own Ramadhan topic, write about that one instead. And please share your topic with other readers; I’m sure it’s something great.

Journal Printing Instructions
Print the Line-a-Day Page(pdf) on paper that is special to you.

From the list above, choose only one topic to journal about for the entire month.
On the back of your paper, write the topic that you selected.

On the dated-ruled side, write only one sentence (or one line) about the same topic each day. This is a great activity to include in a lapbook or notebooking page.

Keep your journal page in an easy to find but safe place.

You can also use double-stick tape, a glue stick, or staples to attach your journal to the inside of a manilla file folder. Be sure to label the file folder! I think one of those pretty file folders from an office supply store (or Dollar Tree) would be so special.

I hope you enjoy keeping this type of journal.

[Printable] Du’aa List/Goals ComboSheet

Use this worksheet for a place to write your du’aa list and goals for Ramadhan. The goals section includes an area to write actions to take.

Goals and Du’aa Worksheet (pdf).

 

[Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be Learnt from Ramadhan: Seeking Nearness to Allah

Excerpt from

Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan

Al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue No.5, Jan 1997

________

From the many important lessons to be learnt from fasting are:

[2]: SEEKING NEARNESS TO ALLAH
The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Whosoever reaches the month of Ramadhan and does not have his sins forgiven, and so enters the Fire, then may Allah distance him.” — Sahih: Related by Ahmad (2/246) and al-Bayhaqi (4/204), from Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu ‘anhu). It was authenticated by Shaykh ‘Ali Hasan al-Halabi in “Sifatus-Sawmin-Nabi” (p.24).

So drawing closer to Allah – the Mort Perfect – in this blessed month, can be achieved by fulfilling one’s obligatory duties; and also reciting the Qur’an and reflecting upon its meanings, increasing in kindness and in giving charity, in making du’a (supplication) to Allah, attending the tarawih Prayer, seeking out Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power and Pre-Decree), a night which is better than a thousand months, attending gatherings of knowledge, and striving in there actions that will cause the heart to draw closer to its Lord and to gain His forgiveness. Our level of striving in this blessed month should be greater than our striving to worship Allah in any other month, due to the excellence and rewards that Allah has placed in it. Likewise from the great means of seeking nearness to Allah in this month is making i’tikaf (seclusion in the mosque in order to worship Allah) – for whoever is able.

Source: Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan

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Your Assignment
The above excerpt identified eleven ways a person can seek nearness to Allah in Ramadhan.

You can choose any of these to set as goals for this upcoming Ramadhan.

No matter which goal(s) you choose, remember that “Our level of striving in this blessed month should be greater than our striving to worship Allah in any other month.” And this level of striving can also be a goal itself.

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Up Next– bi’ithnillah, [Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be learnt from Ramadhan: Cultivating Good Manners
Previously, [Setting Goals] Important Lessons to be Learnt from Ramadhan: Gaining Taqwa and [Setting Goals] The True Good Life

See more on Setting Goals

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The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Allah said: Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the obligatory duties that I have placed upon him. My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with optional deeds so that I shall love him.” — Related by al-Bukhari (11/481), from Abu Hurayrah radiallahu ‘anhu.

[Setting Goals] The True Good Life

A class by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh (Rahima-hullaah) titled “The True Good Life” has some excellent Ramadhan Goals! It is one of my personal favorites. So if you haven’t quite decided on a goal, you might be interested in this one.

Class Overview
When our financial lives, our relationships with family and even non-family, or tranquility in thoughts are not what they should be and we want it to change, there are things we can do to fix it.

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Your Assignment

Step I. Listen to the Class Audio

Advices and Reminders — The True Good Life
Understand-Islam.Net

• by Dr. Saleh As-Saleh — Rahima-hullaah
• Length: 47 Minutes · MP3
  Click play arrow
  

Step II. Identify a Goal and a Download the Plan Packet
Identify the goal you want. Then, use the True Good Life Success Packet (all the goals/actions are listed on the first page) to help you develop a plan to reach your goal. Breaking down a big goal into small do-able steps will help you be successful in the long term insha’Allah.

Step III. Mark Your Calendar
Get out your personal calendar or planner. At the beginning and middle of each and every month, write a reminder statement about keeping up with your goal. You want to help yourself as much as possible. And one of the ways to make something a habit, is to write it on your calendar/planner. Even if you don’t do it, the reminder is still there. And seeing it may inspire you to act.

If you have mobile device, use the calendar feature to set reminders. Google calendar is another high-tech option.