Ramzan is here...

And from tomorrow starts the blessed month of Ramadan in Pakistan. :)

We all know that this months brings with it blessings. But it's not only about fasting, it's also about earning more sawab in this month.

We should be praying more and reciting Quran more in Ramadan, and most of us definitely do that, but as it turns out for some of us (and here I am including myself), eat and sleep more during this month. Work and school goes out early so that gives us an opportunity to sleep during the evening as well. We go to sleep early at night so that we can get up in sehri, and then go to sleep again after fajar. This time, we should all try to spend more time in praying.. as one of my university teachers once said;

Sonay se kya ho ga? Kya kal phir neend nahi aye gee? Koi yeh keh de ke mein abhi zada so jaon to agla pura hafta nahi soan ga to woh aur baat hai, par aisa hota to nahi. Phir Ramzan mein to subha jaldi uth jaya karein aap loog. Neend to kabhi puri nahi ho gee.. shayad akhir mein ho jaye.. par woh bhi zaroori nahi

So, this time, let us all try to do the following;

• Recite Quran as much as possible.
• Recite the surahs we have memorized as much as possible. This can be done while travelling to and from work/school.
• Recite Kalmas as much as possible. Again, can be done while travelling to and from work/school.
• Try to memorize more surahs, but not just memorize the Arabic words, but the translation as well. And let us all try to understand the words.
• Educate ourselves about our religion. The only way we can improve the image of Muslims in the eyes of the whole wide world is to become better muslims, and we can do that only if we try to earn more knowledge about Islam.

Have a blessed Ramzan everyone. May Allah bestow us with his blessings always. Ameen. :)

Of Ramadan and Islam

When the Night equals a Thousand

Things to do in Ramadan

As Ramadan approaches, pamphlets are distributed, articles are published in various magazines regarding the Ibadat that a person can indulge himself/herself into during this holy month. My mom read one of such articles to me, also specifying how can I complete them. Like at one point she said, you can easily recite these ayats on your way to office. You have ample time to complete one tasbeeh easily.
I am jotting down some of them below, so that we can all try to recite them whenever we can, and so that we may not forget to especially take out time for these. After all, this month comes but once a year.

One tasbeeh of First Kalma everyday.
One tasbeeh of Third Kalma everyday.
At least one tasbeeh of Astagfar every day.
One tasbeeh of Surah-Ikhlas (Kul ho Allah)
2 Nafil shukrana every day.
Try to offer Salat-e-Tasbeeh before Friday's Zuhur.
In Ramadan Surah-Qadr (Inna Anzalna) should be recited extensively. Recite it 7 times, at the least, every day.

You can recite a few even while working...
Read Ya-Allah, Ya-Salam, Ya-Hafeez.


Right after waking up in the morning, read Bismillah and then read Durud-Shareef three times, then blow on your wrists and then rub them on your face.
If you are irritated or angered by something then read Al-Hafeez, you'll feel better.
After Isha and Namaz-e-Taraveeh read Al-Qavi 21 times.
After Isha and Namaz-e-Taraveeh read First Kalma three times.

Source: Pakeeza (September 2008). Pgs. 303 - 305. You'll find a lot of other ayats you can recite during Ramadan. Do make it a point to go through these pages because I have jotted only a few of the many present.

Ramadan Mubarak

I know I am a bit late with this post. We at Pakistan are already done with the 3rd roza, this post should have come early but well, better late then never.

Ramadan Mubarak to all of you

May we all take the full advantage of this blessed month. Pray as much as we can and may we keep ourselves away from all kinds of sins for this one month at least. Ameen.

This is the month where all Muslims try to follow the rules a bit more carefully. When we all try to offer our prayers, all 5 of them and all at the right time. When we try to keep ourselves away from sins and try to indulge ourselves in Zikr. When we keep ourselves away from food, in order to achieve Allah's blessings.

It's a completely different environment in Ramzan. You know everyone is offering Fast. You talk more about Islam and what we should be doing in this month. People offer Taraveh we all try to finish Quran in this month.

I am writing all of this, not because I intend to preach about Ramadan. But because these are the things that I especially like about Ramadan. The fact that we all strive to become good Muslims, even if it's just for this one month. But even so it feels good that after all that has been happening all around, and after all the things we have entangled ourselves in, in spite of all the complexities we have sewn all around us, in spite of all the conspiracies we brew to keep ourselves ahead of everyone else in the race of life, there are times, when we detach ourselves from all these worldly affairs, or at least we try our best, and engage ourselves in our deen.

I would also take this opportunity and request everyone reading this to forgive me for anything that I might have said or done to hurt you in any way. Please forgive me.
Who knows I might not be there to ask for forgiveness the next time Ramadan is here.