“Allah the Almighty said:

‘O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.’”

[At-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.]

The other day I spent at the hospital with my youngest child. Alhamdulillaah nothing serious. Sitting there next to his hospital bed, seeing all the small children around me, being there for different reasons, made me conscious of how I take so many things for granted. All those things I take for granted, is something I really have to be thankful for.  

The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Take benefit of five before five:
your youth before your old age,
your health before your sickness,
your wealth before your poverty,
your free-time before your preoccupation,
and your life before your death.” 

Life and health is something many of us take for granted. I know I do, very often. We think we will live as long as we want and as long as we need to do enough of good deeds, and not only that, I will also be healthy and sound as a bell. I take it for granted just as I take it for granted that my children, family and those I love and care about also will be healthy and live as long as I need them around.  

I live in a very safe and secure place. We have peace here. We have food. We have clean water for drinking and washing. SubhanAllaah, even the water we flush our toilets with are pure and clean drinking-water! And this when people in some areas of the world have nothing to drink but dirty contaminated water. So many children die because of this. It really is a shame that today, 2011, we can travel to the moon, we can send robots to Mars, we can create weapons of mass destruction – but we can’t guarantee something as simple as clean water to everyone!  

So many people, so many of my sisters and brothers in islam, live under horrible conditions. They live in wars, occupied lands, they don’t have food to eat or to feed their children with. They don’t have access to even the basic medical care or medicines. I often think about the absurdity that in Africa, and other places, so many children die from malaria, when that is so easy to prevent. The most efficient ways to prevent malaria is mosquito nets. And how much does that cost? Around 5 dollars! SubhanAllaah. Yet the rich world can’t afford to sponsor families in malaria infected areas with that. 

It is so easy to prevent so much suffering, misery, diseases, hunger…. Yet we don’t. It’s so sad really. We’re so preoccupied with our lives and with dunya, this life and this world, that we forget those less fortunate around us. And if that wasn’t enough, we even forget to be grateful for what we have, for all the good that Allaah bestows upon us. We forget to thank Allaah. We simply take for granted that we should have all the benefits in life that we have. We take it for granted and we expect it, and if we would lose any of it, we get upset, angry, depressed and complain about it. But we don’t say thanks for the gifts.  

If we only would remember to thank Allaah, the Bestower, the Sustainer, the Ever-Providing, the Most Generous, properly from the depths of our hearts each day. If we did that, I am sure we would be more successful and perhaps, with the permission of Allaah, we would be able to do more good in this world and seriously bring forth a change.

Oh Allah help us in remembering You, in offering gratitude to You, and in worshiping You beautifully, amin.

I often talk about how beautiful islam is, even here, at the blog description, I say this is about the beautiful deen islam. I choose to use the word deen, and not religion, as islam is so much more than just a religion. Anyhow, I will address that in another post inshaAllaah biithnillaah.  

One of the beautiful things in islam is how love, fear and hope is all connected, and how it should be incorporated in our hearts. It’s not always easy though, to do this and find that delicate balance between them all. But when we understand how to combine these three qualities, we will, biithnillaah, be among the successful ones. SubhanAllaah. It is essential for the believers to do that, as our ibadah, our worship and servitude of Allaah, is not complete if we don’t.  

So what are the love, fear and hope I am talking about? It is love of Allaah, fear of His punishment and hope in his Mercy.  

وَلَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَـٰحِهَا وَٱدۡعُوهُ خَوۡفً۬ا وَطَمَعًا‌ۚ إِنَّ رَحۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ 

And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allâh’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers. [Surah al-Araaf 7: 56] 

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّہُمۡ خَوۡفً۬ا وَطَمَعً۬ا وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ 

Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allâh’s Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. [Surah as-Sajdah 32: 16]

So… hope and fear is something that we should strive to find a balance for in our hearts, but when it comes to love, the love of Allaah exceed both the love and the fear. As one of our pious predecessors said: “The love is better than fear. The fear checks us from sinning, and the love makes us to do what is prescribed with an open heart.” 

How do we attain the level of being able to fully love Allaah? I read somewhere that the road to love of Allaah is full of hurdles, and that we are, on this road, all alone. Of course we have Allaah, and we have His guidance in the Quraan. But in this world we are alone as in there is no one who will reprimand us or punish us when we go the wrong way, when we do the wrong things. It is up to ourselves to keep us in check. And as I see it, that’s how it is, because my servitude and my love for Allaah, is only between me and Him. Alhamdulillaah. 

As the quote says, “the fear checks us from sinning” … the fear of Allaah and His wrath and punishment, can be a good way to start the path towards loving Allaah. Sins will remove us further away from Allaah, and the more far we go, the less real love for Him we have. But if we remind ourselves of Allaah, that He indeed sees us, hear us, knows everything we do, say, think, it will be easier for us to abstain from bad behaviour and bad speech. If we then also take in to account that we will one day answer to Allaah, for all what we used to do, and that we can be punished, it will certainly be easier for us to abstain from the bad. So yes, fear of Allaah is an important part, that will help us to draw closer to Allaah. It will help us keeping our hearts soft and pure. And a soft heart that is close to Allaah, will love Allaah more than anything else. That love will make us eager to draw closer to Allaah, to perform good deeds, to worship and serve Him in the best ways we ever can. 

رَبَّنَا وَءَاتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخۡزِنَا يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ‌ۗ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخۡلِفُ ٱلۡمِيعَادَ

“Our Lord! Grant us what You promised unto us through Your Messengers and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection, for You never break (Your) Promise.” [Surah Ale Imraan 3: 194]

There are many characteristics for us to strive to have. One of the most important, at least in my opinion, is to be humble. Many muslims today suffer, are displeased, miserable, depressed, just because we’re not humble. It’s so easy to say that one is humble, but to truly be that, is far more difficult. I see and hear so many muslims saying, of course I am humble, or grateful, or patient. And I do that too, often. But when it really comes to show, we’re not. We expect more “from life”, we complain, we envy.. the list can be made long.

When it comes to humility there are two kinds that both are important, and that should be a part of a muslims behaviour. First of all, we humble ourselves to out Creator, azza wa jall. We serve Allaah, bow down to Him, pray to Him, call upon Him, worship Him the way He and His Messenger has told and showed us how to.  

َدۡ أَفۡلَحَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ (١) ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِى صَلَاتِہِمۡ خَـٰشِعُونَ (٢) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَنِ ٱللَّغۡوِ مُعۡرِضُونَ (٣) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِلزَّكَوٰةِ فَـٰعِلُونَ 

 Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salât (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allâh has forbidden). And those who pay the Zakât.  [Surah al-Muminoon 23: 1-4]

 ٱدۡعُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ تَضَرُّعً۬ا وَخُفۡيَةً‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُعۡتَدِينَ (٥٥) وَلَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَـٰحِهَا وَٱدۡعُوهُ خَوۡفً۬ا وَطَمَعًا‌ۚ إِنَّ رَحۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allâh’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers.  [Surah Al-Araf 7:55-56]

This, to humble one self in front of Allaah, is something that can be written about in lengths. SubhanAllaah it is such a significant part of how we should be, how our relation to Allaah, our Creator, should be.

The second category of humility, is to be humble towards the creation. To be modest and humble towards other human beings. Personally I have a big problem with people who have a “holier than thou” attitude, and even if they speak good, I can’t relate to what they say and I can’t benefit from what they say either. Mostly because their attitude and behaviour are so far from how a muslim should be, so what they say simply comes out as a part of hypocrisy. Now, am I free from this? No not at all. But I really do wish to be humble. Humble towards Allaah, and towards His creation.  

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “God has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another and boasts over another.” – Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2294 

We muslims often say, we live and die for Allaah’s sake. All we do is only for pleasing Allaah. My life is to worship and serve Allaah. I am always aware that Allaah is watching me and act accordingly. And yes… this is how it should be. But rarely is. Just look around in the world, and we see that isn’t the case. We muslims are very good at talking, me included! And oh no, I am not saying there isn’t people who actually live like this to the fullest, who are mohsin, who have reached the level of ihsan. I have muslim sisters in my life, that I could easy point at and say they are mohsin, they live and die for Allaah, their life is to worship, serve and please Allaah. But the thing is, they themselves would never say that. Because they are so humble, mashaAllaah tabarakAllaah. I wish so much one day to become like them. 

I think (yeah I think a lot today) that a good way of becoming humble, is to see and acknowledge our arrogance, and stop it. Find ways to our thoughts and our doings that is arrogant or leads to arrogance. And when or if we manage to eliminate our arrogance, what we will have left is humility.  

When a muslim is born, the first thing they hear is adhaan, the call to prayer, whispered in their ear. And when they are dead, funeral prayer is done for them. We start our lives with adhaan, and end it with salah, prayer, as if all of our life is between adhaan and salah.

Allaah, subhanaho wata’ala, is calling us to His house. Five times a day, every single day, the one who calls for prayer calls us to worship God, and he starts with calling out “haya ala salaah” …Do we have any connection with Allaah, azza wa jall? Do we have any nearness to Allaah, subhanaho wata’ala? Do we pray the five daily prayers?

In the Quran, Allaah says,

فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ (٤٠) عَنِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ (٤١) مَا سَلَڪَكُمۡ فِى سَقَرَ (٤٢) قَالُواْ لَمۡ نَكُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ

“In Gardens (Paradise) they will ask one another, About Al-Mujrimûn (polytheists, criminals, disbelievers), (And they will say to them): “What has caused you to enter Hell?” They will say: “We were not of those who used to offer the Salât (prayers)” [Surah al-Muddathir: 74: 40-43]

The first thing, the first reason they will mention is that we were among those who didn’t pray. This verse shows the significance of prayer. Prayer is the fundament of all good deeds, and prayer come before and after all other good deeds. We can see that in the Quran, where Allaah says:

قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ (١) ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِى صَلَاتِہِمۡ خَـٰشِعُونَ (٢) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَنِ ٱللَّغۡوِ مُعۡرِضُونَ (٣) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِلزَّكَوٰةِ فَـٰعِلُونَ (٤) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِفُرُوجِهِمۡ حَـٰفِظُونَ (٥) إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزۡوَٲجِهِمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُہُمۡ فَإِنَّہُمۡ غَيۡرُ مَلُومِينَ (٦) فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٲلِكَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡعَادُونَ (٧) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٲعُونَ (٨) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٲتِہِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ (٩) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡوَٲرِثُونَ (١٠) ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلۡفِرۡدَوۡسَ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

“Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehoods and all that Allah has forbidden). And those who pay the Zakat. And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, -for then, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors. Those who are faithfully true to their trusts and to their covenants. And those who strictly guard their Salat (five compulsory congregational prayers at their fixed stated hours). These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever.” [Surah al-Muminun 23:1-11]

And He also say,

 إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا (١٩) إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعً۬ا (٢٠) وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلۡخَيۡرُ مَنُوعًا (٢١) إِلَّا ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ (٢٢) ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِہِمۡ دَآٮِٕمُونَ (٢٣) وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ حَقٌّ۬ مَّعۡلُومٌ۬ (٢٤) لِّلسَّآٮِٕلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ (٢٥) وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ (٢٦) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنۡ عَذَابِ رَبِّہِم مُّشۡفِقُونَ (٢٧) إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّہِمۡ غَيۡرُ مَأۡمُونٍ۬ (٢٨) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِفُرُوجِهِمۡ حَـٰفِظُونَ (٢٩) إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزۡوَٲجِهِمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُہُمۡ فَإِنَّہُمۡ غَيۡرُ مَلُومِينَ (٣٠) فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٲلِكَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡعَادُونَ (٣١) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِہِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٲعُونَ (٣٢) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَہَـٰدَٲتِہِمۡ قَآٮِٕمُونَ (٣٣) وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِہِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ (٣٤) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ مُّكۡرَمُونَ (٣٥)

“Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; and niggardly when good touches him. Except those devoted to Salat (prayers), those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers), and those in whose wealth there is a known right, for the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened). And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, and those who fear the torment of their Lord. Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure. And those who guard their chastity (ie, private parts from illegal sexual acts), except with their wives and the (women slaves and captives) whom their right hands possess, -for (then) they are not to be blames. But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. And those who keep their trusts and covenants, and those who stand firm in their testimonies, and those who guard their Salat (prayers) well; such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honored.” [Surah Al-Maarif: 70:19-35]

In these verses, it is told what characteristics the believers have, and the first thing that is mentioned is how they devote themselves on their prayers. Other signs of a believer is:

They avoid vain and vulgar activities.
They pay their Zakat regularly.
They guard their chastity and avoid illicit relations.
Those who do not betray covenants and trusts.
Those who stand by their testimonies (as in Surah Al-Maarij.).

And then, after mentioning these characteristics, Allaah again points to the importance of establishing regular prayers. The quotation from surah Al-Maarij is similar to the one from surah al-Muminoon. These verses makes us understand that the prayer is like a fortress which protects and preserves all our other good deeds. To guard one’s prayer helps guard one’s other virtues. The Prophet, aleyhi salato wasalaam, said once: “Prayer is the pillar of the religion” (Al-Baihaqi) He, aleyhi salato wasalaam, also said: “The first thing about which a mans is going to be questioned on the Day of Judgment is prayer. If it is found to be sound all his other reactions will be sound as well. If his prayer is not sound all his remaining actions would be spoiled.” (Al-Tabarani)

So from this we can also understand that prayer stimulates us to do good deeds, but it also removes minor sins from us, subhanAllaah! Allaah, subhanaho wata’ala, says:

وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَىِ ٱلنَّہَارِ وَزُلَفً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلۡحَسَنَـٰتِ يُذۡهِبۡنَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ذِكۡرَىٰ لِلذَّٲكِرِينَ

“Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins), ” [surah Hud 11:114]

Prayer is the best of all good deeds and it can erase many sins from us poor sinners. Allah’s Messenger, aleyhi salato wasalaam, said: “Whoever commits a sin, but performs ablution in the best way, then offers two Rakat prayer, and he asks for the forgiveness of Allah, Allah almighty forgives his sins.” (Ahmad) This does of course not mean that we can go on and sinning as much as we want, as long as we follow each sin with prayer. No, what this means is that the doors to repentance also opens the doors for forgiveness, and that we always, as long as we live, have an opportunity to repent. This hadeeth also shows us that prayer is a form of repentance, and thus we should offer our prayers with sincerity and a true desire to amend one’s character. Repentance will lead to that our eman, faith, will be revived, renewed and we will be better and stronger in fighting our desires to do evil and wrong.

In surah Al-Furqaan Allaah describes how repentance is a way out for those who commit major sins:

وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدۡعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا يَزۡنُونَ‌ۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٲلِكَ يَلۡقَ أَثَامً۬ا (٦٨) يُضَـٰعَفۡ لَهُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ وَيَخۡلُدۡ فِيهِۦ مُهَانًا (٦٩) إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً۬ صَـٰلِحً۬ا فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ حَسَنَـٰتٍ۬‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا (٧٠) وَمَن تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا فَإِنَّهُ ۥ يَتُوبُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَتَابً۬ا

“And those who invoke not any other Ilah (god) along with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse – and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace. Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds, then verily, he repents towards Allah with true repentance. “ [surah al-Furqaan 25:68-71]

Prayer is not a burden forced upon us but is the inner cry of every soul. It’s a cry from the depths of our hearts to our Creator and Sustainer. The prayer is only a very small sign of our gratitude for all the innumerable bounties that our Creator has bestowed upon us. Everyday, in our normal everyday lives, we thank people for the small good deeds they do for us, but we so often forget to than Allaah. It is after all He Who has given us everything we have, He Who has provided for every single need of ours. We should focus more on looking up, looking around us, observing the amazing creation that we are a part of. We should be amazed by the beauty that Allaah has created, for us to enjoy. And we should fall down in gratitude to our Lord, our Creator, to Allaah, subhanaho wata’ala.

Allah’s Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time.” (Muslim). Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet.

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, related that the Prophet said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari).

The Prophet said: “Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira).

Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it.

1. Take a vacation for Allah

We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator.

If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day.

It will also facilitate doing Itikaf.

2. Do Itikaf

It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf.

Those in Itikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs.

Itikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.

3. Make this special Dua

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?’ He said: ‘Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.’ “(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

The transliteration of this Dua is “Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee”

4. Recite the Quran

Perhaps you can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran which you have heard in Tarawih this past Ramadan to recite.

If you attend a class where the recitation of the Quran is taught, this is a great time to put your knowledge into practice.

5. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran

Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you’ve heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level.

(If you want to study the Quran with more understanding, check out Way to the Quran and Access to Quranic Arabic.

6. Get your sins wiped out

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim).

Don’t just pray using the shorter Surahs that you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation and then pray reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray.

Even if you are only familiar with the shorter Surahs, read the translation and explanation beforehand, and then pray reflecting on the message of the Surahs.

This is a good way to develop the habit of concentration, even in regular prayers, where many of us tend to be fidgety and/or easily distracted.

7. Make a personal Dua list.

Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things:

• Ask Allah to give you those things
• Think about what actions you have taken to get those things
• Develop a work plan to get those things in future.

8. Evaluate yourself.

Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. (see a short and a long evaluation guide) This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah’s sincere forgiveness when making the Dua mentioned in tip above.

9. Make long, sincere and deep Duas

One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night.

Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim).

That means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor time to ask Allah for anything and everything you want that is Halal. This can be done using the Duas of the Sunnah, but also Dua in your own language, with sincerity and conviction.

For some tips on making Dua please see the article Some personal Duas you can make.

10. Memorize a different Dua every night

They don’t have to be long. They can be just one line. And be sure to know what they mean generally at least, even if you don’t know the exact translation in English.

You can put them on index cards (or and keep them with you during the day, glancing at them during work, while driving, waiting in line, etc.) Then practice them at night in prayer.

11. Have Iftar with the family

If you’ve spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you’ll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.

12. Take the family to Tarawih

Have your spouse and kids missed Tarawih most of Ramadan because you weren’t there to drive them to the Masjid, which is too far away to walk to? If so, do all of yourselves a favor and bring everyone for Tarawih in these last ten nights.

13. Attend the Dua after the completion of Quran recitation

Almost all Masjids where the Imam aims to finish an entire reading of the Quran in Tarawih prayers in Ramadan will be completing their recitation in these last ten nights. They may try to end on one of the odd nights and read the Dua at the end of a reading of the Quran. Attend this particular night’s Tarawih prayer with your family. See if you can attend different Masjids’ Tarawih prayers the night they finish reading the Quran.

14. Finish reading a book on the Prophet

Read about the Prophet’s life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah’s sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice.

15. Plan for the next year

Once you’ve done a self-evaluation, you can plan on where you want to go, at least in the next 12 months. Laylatul Qadr is a great night to be thinking about this (without taking away from your worship), since you’ll Insha Allah, be in a more contemplative state. You may choose to dedicate one night of power for evaluation and one night for planning for the next year.

16. To do list for the Night of Power

Make a to do checklist for each Night of Power. This should define how you would like your night, the one better than a thousand months, to be used. Pick things from this list and define the sequence you would like to do things in. This will help you avoid wasting your time in unproductive chats which common in the festive atmosphere of Masjids at the Night of Power.

from www.soundvision.com

Yesterday I talked with a friend about some verses in al-Qur’aan, where Allaah speaks about ‘meeting Allaah’. My friend said he understood one of the verses to be about when Allaah becomes the master of our system, when our socio-economic system is run by Allaah. This however doesn’t have to mean living in an Islamic state. Rather it is when we turn to Allaah and our living and dying is for Allaah. When we give to and for Allaah what we should give Him. My friend said he believed that it all started with fasting. I don’t agree with his understaning of that verse, but the part of fasting I do believe is very true, and it made me think of the importance of fasting. When do we feel the closest to Allaah? When is our eman/faith the strongest? When are we worshipping Allaah with ease and joy? For the majority of muslims it is during the month of Ramadhaan! When I look back at my journey as muslimah, I see that those times in my life when my faith has been stronger, are those times when I engaged more in voluntary fasting. The fasting is, just as the prayer, a shield, a protection, but also a means of increasing eman and drawing closer to Allaah. It makes wonders for our minds, hearts and soul. Even our bodies if we’re doing it right, especially at the times of breaking the fast. By fasting we’re keeping ourselves on track, our focus is set on the right things, the important things in our lives.             

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ 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]

Fasting is an easy way of reminding ourselves about what is important and what we should put time and energy on. It is an easy way of remembering Allaah and to put Him first in our lives and in our minds. By doing so, we get peace of mind and in our hearts. 

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ أَلَا بِذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ (٢٨) ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمۡ وَحُسۡنُ مَـَٔابٍ۬

“Those who, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allâh, Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest. Those who believed, and work righteousness, Tûbâ (all kinds of happiness or name of a tree in Paradise) is for them and a beautiful place of (final) return.” [ar-Rad 13:28,29]

So by adopting fasting as our lifestyle, we can achieve taqwa/mindfulness of Allaah, (which is what we need to reach the bliss in our final destination). By adopting fasting as our lifestyle we will achieve peace in this life and in the next. Fasting helps us to be patient, it helps us being determined and gives us will power. Some might say we need patience, determination and will power to fast, but I see it as we will get this things from Allaah if we are dedicated to do this noble act for His sake. If we have this life style, where fasting is a part of our daily life, we will – inshaAllaah – gain taqwa/mindfulness of Allaah, our faith will increase, we will get closer to Allaah, we will be able to work for the sake of Allaah in a better way and Allaah will ease it for us and come to our help. Our spiritual status will be raised, and we will be more committed to our deen.

Islam. Muslim. What is that? Allaah says in the Quraan, in surah al-Ma’idah: “This day, I have perfected your deen/religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [5: 3] To many of us, today, muslim has become a title which we judge each other with. Whereas it actually is a state of being. Submitting to Allaah and being at peace with Allaah and His creation. It is a way of living ones life by submitting to the Creator, to have faith and to do good deeds. By being muslim, a submitter to Allaah, we get the keys to how to achieve happiness, success, safety, peace and security.

Many of us takes the hadeeth about Jibreel – when he came to the Prophet, aleyhi salato wasalaam, and his followers and asked about islam, iman and ihsan – as the criteria for determine who is muslim and who is not. And don’t get me wrong, I am not denying that hadeeth, but I do believe that we should understand it in a much deeper and wider sense than we often do.

Of course Allaah mentions muslims/muslimeen in the Quraan, I will look briefly at some of them and we can see what Allaah wants from us as muslims, and Allaah knows best!

In surah al-Qalam Allaah says: “Shall We then treat the (submitting) Muslims like the Mujrimoon (criminals, polytheists and disbelievers, etc.)?” [68: 35] Here Allaah puts muslims as a contrast to mujrimeen. So what is mujrimeen? Allaah mentiones them several times, always as wicked people, sinners, criminals and their punishment will be severe. So muslims are the opposite of these evil people. They are not disobedient to Allaah and they don’t violate His Law.

In surah al-Hajj Allaah says: “And strive hard in Allahs Cause as you ought to strive. He has chosen you, and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship, it is the religion of your father Ibrahim (Abraham). It is He (Allah) Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (the Quran), that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you be witnesses over mankind! So perform AsSalat (Iqamat-as-Salat), give Zakat and hold fast to Allah. He is your Maula (Lord, Master, Protector etc), what an Excellent Maula and what an Excellent Helper!” [22: 78] Here Allaah tells us that He gave us the name muslims and that we should strive in His cause, and we should establish as-salat – the prayer and the connection to Allaah – and we should establish zakat – giving and purifying our means. And we should respond to this great blessing with gratitude by fulfilling our duties towards Allah, doing that which He has enjoined upon you and avoiding that which He had forbidden. Among the most important duties are establishing regular prayer and giving Zakah. Zakah is a form of beneficence towards Allah’s creatures, whereby He has enjoined upon the rich to give a little of their wealth to the poor, to help the weak and needy.

In surah al-Jinn Allaah says: “And of us some are Muslims, and of us some are Al-Qasitoon (disbelievers those who have deviated from the Right Path). And whosoever has embraced Islam (i.e. has become a Muslim by submitting to Allah), then such have sought the Right Path.” [72: 14] Here Allaah puts the muslims again in contrast to something, this time al-Qasitoon. Al-Qasitoon are the ones that has left the right path (submission to Allaah). Their behaviour is unjustly, injuriously, wrongfully or tyrannically. So the muslims are the ones behaving the opposite, they are just, fair and good.

Again, in surah an-Naml, Allaah uses the word muslim in contrast to something else, “Be you not exalted against me, but come to me as Muslims (true believers who submit to Allah with full submission) “ [27: 31] Here He speaks about arrogance, the arrogant ones. The ones who thinks they are superior and doesn’t have to obey Allaah and His Messengers. So the muslims are the opposite, they are humble and they submit and obey Allaah and His Laws.

And in surah Fussilat Allaah says: “And who is better in speech than he who (says: “My Lord is Allah,” and then stands straight (acts upon His Order)), and invites (men) to Allah, and does righteous deeds, and says: “I am one of the Muslims.” [41: 33] So here we see that the muslims are the ones doing righteous deeds, who doesn’t associate anything with Allaah, who shun sins and invites people to the Right Path.

So a brief summary of these ayaat  is that muslims/muslimeen are the ones that:

Don’t associate anything with Allaah

Do righteous deeds for the sake of Allaah

Call people/invite people to the Right Path, islam

Are obedient to Allaah

Don’t disobey Allaahs Laws

Establish as-Salat, the prayer and the connection to and communication with Allaah

Establish az-Zakat, give of ones rizq to the ones in need, as a purification of what one have.

Behave justly and rightfully

Are humble

… All this is ways of submitting to Allaah… which means that real submission, real islam, is more than just do ones prayer, pay zakat, fast in ramadhaan and eventually go for hajj. Real islam, a real muslim, is the one that is in peace with Allaahs creation. That work and strive for the sake of Allaah to create peace, to create safety, to spread mercy. A muslim is the one that do righteous deeds, that people can trust and rely upon. A muslim is a person that has good behaviour, that doesn’t opress others, that works for justice and righteousness. And it is not limited to ones equals. No, islam and the Quraan is a message to mankind, to all human beings. And a muslim is a person that invites mankind to this beautiful deen, this beautiful way of living. And the best way of inviting people to this, is to ‘live as one teach’.