Ramadan Mubarak! (^__^)

Salaam and hello everyone! Guess what?

RAMADAN IS HERE!!

 *bounces off the walls in excitement* 

*squeals like a child*

*moonwalks across her room* 

SDJFKLDSADFSGKHASLDFGHFDSKAJGSHDK;LS!!!

...

Sorry (>.<) I'm just REALLY REALLY excited xD 

It's definitely my favourite month in the WHOLE YEAR, and I wait for it to come back as soon as it ends - that is how much I love this precious month! (♥__♥)

For anyone interested in the topic, I will definitely be posting some Ramadan related posts this month, In Shaa Allah! 

However, if you're curious about Ramadan and want to know what it's all about, you'll be glad to know I have already posted a couple of posts on the subject last year, so instead of typing it all out again I shall leave you with a link to a brief overview of the basics of Ramadan for you to read at your leisure by clickety clacking here~

Right, I'm off to type up some more posts! If you're curious about anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate to leave your question(s) in the comments below - remember, there is no such thing as a silly question! (^__^)

Eid Mubarak! ♥

A little late. I know. Eid ul Fitr is over but I had scheduled blogger to publish a blog post about it but clearly it didn't! And now I can't even find it either =/ *puzzled* Well anyhoo! What's done is done. Onto the post!

For anyone who is unfamiliar with 'Eid ul Fitr', I thought I'd give a quick explanation! Eid, means 'festivity' and 'fitr' means 'breaking of the fast'. It is a Muslim holiday which marks the end of our month of fasting - Ramadhan - after the moon has been sighted, and therefore falls on the first day of Shawwal. It is a day that we show gratitude to God the Almighty, the Merciful, and celebrate the end of a good, hard month of fasting!

We have a special prayer in the morning at the masjid/mosque, which is (depending on who you ask) either obligatory or strongly recommended that we pray. Women however do not have to, but are definitely allowed to if they wish to do so. This prayer can only be made in congregation though, so you would have to get to the masjid nice and early! There is also a sermon at the end, where we ask Allah swt for forgiveness, and to shower His Love and Mercy upon the world. You are not allowed to speak, pray, or walk about whilst the Imaam is doing this - and besides, it's rude anyway so shush :P

We are required to give our Zakat - a fixed portion of our wealth - which is given to charity to the poor and needy before Eid prayer, preferably a couple of days before Eid. This is because if it's given early, it can be sent to the poor early so they can buy things they need but cannot afford. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory upon all muslims, just like fasting is.

Because in Islam charity starts at home, we are allowed to give our Zakat to our family. Not our immediate family, not our parents, but extended or distant family who are desperately in need of it. My family back home is from a poor area, but Alhamdulillah they are doing well, so instead we give it to our distant relatives instead, who live in more rural areas.

After Eid prayer, we greet each other with Eid Mubarak and rejoice and celebrate and are told to try and forgive each other for any mistakes we've made against, or any bad things we've done to one another. :-)

In my culture, we call Eid ul Fitr 'Choti Eid' in urdu which translates to 'Little Eid'. Why? Well because Eid ul Fitr is for one day only, and Eid ul Adha (which is in a couple of months) is for three days. I'm Pakistani for anyone who doesn't know, and the language we speak is Urdu! :o)

This Eid, I had a quiet one, stayed at home with my family and ate a lot. Which to be honest, is what we usually do anyway :P but only because we don't have much family in England. We do however Skype with everyone back home or abroad, and call up those who don't have internet! Tis loads of fun catching up! (^__^)

We also wake up early (or stay up all night in this case - we were too used to it from staying up till suhoor!) and cook loads of yummy food to eat and share with our neighbours. The elders give the children gifts, and many give money as a gift, calling it 'Eidie'. I'm just wondering how long it will be until *I* have to start giving out their kind of Eidie.. LOL

I usually take loads of pictures, but this year I had a really bad migraine and couldn't get up till about 12 and was groggy for most of the day :-( or I would have shown you all the food we made and if I was confident enough an outfit of the day. Oh well maybe next Eid! :P

Hope you all had a lovely day those who celebrated it! May Allah swt accept all your hard work and reward your efforts in the holy month of Ramadhan, and may He bless you with happiness, in this life and the next, ameen, thumameen.

And for all of you who don't celebrate Eid, I hope you had a good weekend! :D

♥♥♥

Eid Gift Ideas ♥

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, The Merciful.

In Shaa Allah this post finds you in the best of health and Imaan, and that you are all having a good Ramadan!

The Prophet (saw) said:

“Exchange gifts, as that will lead to increasing your love to one another.” 
(Al-Bukhari)

Now, even though I don't want to think about Ramadan ending, even though it's making me feel really sad just remembering that there are only a few days left of this blessed month, I have decided to put my feelings aside to write up a post on what I think might come in useful for those who may need some last minute ideas and tips on what to give as Eid presents!

Budget:
First thing you need to do, is to have a budget. Set a budget and buy gifts according to the age and the interest of the people in question. Try to spend your money wisely and on things that the person will use/benefit from.

Ideas:
Seeing as the Holy month of Ramadan is ending and that we are most likely closer to our Deen than we are compared to most of the year, a good gift would be one that would encourage and aid the recipient in their good deeds and Islamic obligations.

In case you're stuck and need some inspiration, here are some suggestions:

- Is the person you are gifting a bookworm? As well as BookCentre.co.uk, I recommend Minhaj.co.uk for books on various Islamic topics. Topics include biographies, Islam & Science, Women in Islam.. you name it they'll have it!

-   Are you giving the gift to a child? Look online or at your local Islamic store for some Islamic childrens books. A good site to find some is BookCentre.co.uk. They ship worldwide and shipping is included in the price. They also sell toys and games - I've even seen a Muslim version of Snakes and Ladders!

-   Is it someone who loves music? There are plenty of nasheed artists out there now that do some amazing work. My personal favourite has to be Sami Yusuf - his music helped me come closer to my Deen when i was a teen. My favourite album of his is My Ummah.

Another good idea is to give them something practical, or something that they need. 

For example if it's a uni student, you could give them a gift card for Waterstones/WHSmith/Amazon to buy one of their books for their course. If they're a new hijabi, you could put together a hijabi essentials kit.

If it's someone who travels a lot, you could get them a new bag and stick in some everyday essentials and things that will come in handy - such as hand sanitizer, hand cream, a nice lip balm, a mini first aid kit, a spare phone battery, a pair of sturdy headphones, a cute notebook & pen for jotting down notes, etc. It all depends on the person in question really!

I find that when I get given practical gifts myself, I appreciate them more. It feels like some thought has gone into it - anyone can give a box of chocolates or mithai. But maybe that's just me and my way of thinking about things ☺

Anyhoo, hope I helped anyone stuck for ideas for Eid gifts - or just gifts in general really. If you have any suggestions feel free to comment below - sharing is caring m'dears (^__^)

♥♥♥

The Virtues of Iftaar/Iftaari

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

In Shaa Allah you're having a lovely day ☺ Todays topic is on the virtues of Iftaar! 

Just as there are great blessings in the meal taken before beginning our fasts, likewise Iftaar (i.e. the breaking of the fast) has its own unique blessings. Hadhrat Umar (ra) narrates that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

'Not a single prayer made by a fasting person at the time of breaking fast is rejected'

(Ibn Majah)

SubhaanAllah, God is so Merciful! Truly, we are a blessed Ummah to be granted such a thing. Make the most of it - ask Allah swt for His Pardon, and surely He will forgive you :-)

Another example of how generous Allah swt is, is in the following Hadith; where Zaid ibn Khalid Juhni related that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

'He who provides for the breaking of the Siyam of another person earns the same merit as the one who was observing Siyam without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter.'
(Tirmidhi)

 So if you help prepare and give food to a fasting person to open their fast with, you get the same amount of reward as they do, without the reward of the fasting person being reduced. So all the more incentive for you to help your mum prepare food for Iftaar! Haha :D

Timing is also very important when it comes to breaking our fast so when the sun has begun to set, we should hasten to open our fasts, as Abu Hurayrah narrates that the holy Prophet (PBUH) said

'Allah, Mighty and Majestic said, 'The most beloved of my servants in my sight are those who hasten when breaking their fast.'
(Tirmidhi)

So loving is He, that Allah swt does not want you to prolong your hunger and thirst any longer than necessary. Alhamdulillah. :-) With regards to the sunnah of breaking our fasts, the Messenger (PBUH) said:

'When one of you breaks his fast he should do so with dates for they provide blessing, but if he cannot get any he should break his fast with water for it is purifying.'
(Mishkat)

We also know that dates have many health benefits too. The flesh of the date is soft, easily digestible, and filled with simple sugars such as dextrose and fructose, which when eaten helps replenish your energy quickly and revitalise your body ASAP. This is especially beneficial for when you have been fasting all day and need a quick pick me up before evening prayer.

SubhaanAllah, we can see that there is logic behind everything in Islam - and that's what I love about it! I hope I've helped you in some way or another today, In Shaa Allah. Don't forget to share this with your friends and pass it on to others ☺

Everything good in this post is from Allah swt, and any & all mistakes are mine.

Am I exempt from fasting?

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Today's Ramadan related topic is on deferred and exemption from fasting.

Fasting is compulsory for every sane Muslim who has attained puberty. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, and once you are able to do so, you are required to fast - it is obligatory.

However, in Islam, we believe that Allah swt never puts us through anything that He Knows we won't be able to get through. And with fasting, it is no exception - He has laid down some rules as to who is and is not obligated to fast, depending on their condition.

Deferred fasting, i.e. fasting at a later date, is permitted for the following groups of people:

♦     Pregnant women on medical grounds - this is an obvious one, because it would harm her child.
♦     Breastfeeding mothers - only if as a result of fasting her or her child's health suffers.

♦     Women who are menstruating - in Islam when women are on their period, we are prohibited from praying, fasting, and touching the Holy Qu'ran, as women are considered unclean in that state. Also, fasting and doing our five daily prayers on top of period pain/cramps would be too much for us to handle; another way Allah swt has shown how Compassionate and Merciful He is!

It makes me thankful that he allows us to relax and relieves us from our religious duties while we curl up with a hot water bottle >.<

 Aishah (ra) said: “When we had our periods at the time of the Prophet, we were ordered to compensate for fasting but not for prayers.”
(Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

♦     The young - although they are encouraged to fast so they are prepared for when they are obligated to when older (obviously here we are talking about kids 9+ not little children, and also the parents should know whether or not fasting will affect their childs health adversely and act appropriately).
♦     A person who is not of sound mind, e.g. the insane or someone mentally handicapped - again, this is obvious. It is unjust to make them do so.


“But he who is ill or on a journey shall fast instead the same number of days later on.” (The Holy Qur'an 2:185).


♦     A traveller on a journey of three or more days - the intent of this and the above verse is to not add any further hardship upon the person that is already taking up the hardship that comes with travelling for an extended period of time.
♦     A person whose health is likely to deteriorate as a result of fasting - once they have recovered and are not in any danger of getting worse if they fast, then they must make up their missed fasts immediately.
♦     Someone who is temporarily ill  - be it from a fever, a really bad cough, the flu.


But what if I can't make up my fasts later - what do I do then?


Well then you have to make up for it by paying to charity the equivalent of a meal for every fast missed. Type of food to be given as compensation should be:


♦     a regular, proper meal that they can eat, for example if red meat is part of a regular meal for you, you should give that as charity.
♦     If however, red meat is a luxury for you, then you should not give that, because you should only give what you can afford - yes you should give your due but that does not mean you should overdo it - you have to take care of your family and self also.
♦     Depending on where you are planning on giving the charity, it will vary from culture to culture - another thing to keep in mind. I don't think someone who lives on chapattis or rice would appreciate your donner kebab. Ahem.
♦     In regards to who you should give your charity to, you can feed various people, or feed one person many times, or a whole family a few times, as long as you make up for your fasts, that's all that matters.

The elderly (for obvious reasons), and the permanently ill (such as someone with diabetes, cancer, TB, terminally ill, etc.) fall into this category.


“Do not kill yourselves. God is compassionate to you.”
(The Holy Qur'an 4:29)


If someone fasts when they are unwell, in spite of his illness and bears the burden of fasting, his fast may be valid but his/her action is not commendable; God has granted him concession and has ignored His Mercy. God doesn't want you to strain yourself - He'll understand you know, He isn't called the Just Lord for nothing you know! >.<

Anyway, In Shaa Allah/God Willing this helped anyone out there who were unsure about anything regarding whether or not they should be fasting, or if you're a non Muslim and wanted to know just in general! ☺


Everything good in this post is from Allah swt, and any & all mistakes are mine.

Ramadan Mubarak! ♥

The blessed month of Ramadan is upon us, and for those of you who don't know much about it, I thought I'd do a wee little blog post about my favourite time of year. 

It has finally come around again, and just the thought of it being so near has made me the happiest I've been in ages, Alhamdulillah! I've been looking forward to it since it ended last year - yes, I love it that much! 

Every year, Muslims all over the world fast for a whole month. Not continuously of course - that'd be just silly! There are a few reasons we fast, the main one being because it is God's command. But the others are to learn self restraint, to help control our ego and tongue, to help us empathize and help the poor.

Fasting really helps us realise how blessed we are to have running water, a warm bed, a roof over our heads, hot, delicious food to eat at the end of the day.. It really opens our eyes to how much we take for granted.

'O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self restraint...' 

(The Holy Qur'an, 2:183)

So how does it work? What do we do when fasting? Well, we follow the traditions of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him).

We fast from dawn till dusk, not only from food, water, smoking, and conjugal relationships, but doubly so from actions which are prohibited in a Muslims every day life such as lying, slandering, adultery, backbiting, obscene/abusive language, hurting other people, etc.

Traditions include:

♦     Eating just before dawn,

♦     Ending the fast at sunset, (which is about five minutes before before our evening prayer) with dates, water, or something sweet,

♦     Reciting the praise of and seeking the forgiveness of Allah the Almighty, the Most Merciful,

♦     Giving charity, particularly in the last 10 days of Ramadan,

♦     Performing the Taraweeh prayers with the last prayer of the day,

♦     And I'tkaaf, where you stay in the masjid (mosque) for the last 10 days of Ramadan.

There are of course more, but I thought I should keep my first post on this short and sweet (^__^) 

Now I'm off to write up a few more posts like this that I'll be posting throughout the month. They'll be (hopefully) handy hints and tips about fasting - I'll post them between my usual skincare posts. 

If you have any questions or requests, please comment below and let me know ☺ 

Everything good in this post is from Allah swt, and any & all mistakes are mine.