Ramadan Reminder!! Episode II

12 sunnah you can do to earn rewards

Episode two

Treating  parent beautifully

Regardless of where you are at in your relationship with your parents, try to make it better this month. If you are in disagreement with them for any reason, try your best to reconnect with them. If you are already connected, try to beautify and perfect your treatment and manners. 

Abu huraira reported that a person came to Allah's messenger (SAW) and said. 

 

"

Who among the people us most deserving of a fine treatment from my hand? He said: your mother. He again said: then who( is the next one)? He said: Again it is your mother( who deserves the best Treatment from you).He said: Then who ( is the next one)? He ( the holy prophet) said: Again, it is your mother. He ( again) said: then who? Thereupon he said your father. ( Sahih Muslim)

    Being dutiful to parents is a major act of excellence instructed by Allah and his messenger (SAW) and it is majorly rewarded as well.

   The messenger of Allah SAW said;

"A parent is the best of the gate of jannah; so if you wish, take advantage of that gate, or lose it". ( At-Titmidhi and ibn majah).

   So agin, regardless of where we're at, we can try to do a bit more this month. Maybe by visiting, calling, gifting helping.....etc there are plenty wayd. Seek Allah's help for direction and inspiration, and do as much as you can. 

Praying the night prayer. 

  Standing up to pray at night for the sake of Allah while sacrificing your comfort sleep, is an act of devotion and major spiritual fulfillment. 

  Abu huraira narrated that the messenger of Allah SAW said;.

"Who ever prays during the night in Ramadan out of sincere faith and seeking it's reward from Allah, will have all his previous sins forgive". ( Agreed upon) authentic Hadith. 

If you are able to join a congregational night prayer in the masjid, do that. If for some reason you are incapable of doing that, then you still don't shave to waste the opportunity. Pray wherever you are or at home. 

 The night prayer could be done any time after Isha prayer. You can do it right after Isha prayer, or you can pray isha, sleep then wake up for the night prayer, or you can pray when you wake up before dawn, in the last third of the night. All of this counts as night prayer. So, there is plenty of time. 

Narrated Abdullah ibn amr ibn al-As:

" The prophet SAW said: if anyone prays at night reciting regular ten verses, he will not be recorded among the negligent; if anyone prays at night and recites a hundred verse, he will be recorded among those who are obedient to Allah; and if anyone prays at night reciting one thousand verse he will be recorded among those who receive huge rewards.  ( Sunan  Abi Dawid).

If you are busy mother, don't think that if you don't join the prayer in the masjid that you miss rewards. On the contrary, your prayers at home could be even more rewarded than praying in the masjid. The prophet SAW did not forbid women praying in the masjid, but he also didn't burden or obligate them to go, and informed that a woman's prayer at home is heavily rewards. 

" Ibn 'umar reported the messenger of Allah SWA as saying; " Do not prevent your woman from visiting the masjid, but their houses are Bette for them ( for praying)." ( Sunan Abi Dawud) 

So, in all conditions, make sure you pray the might prayers  regularly this Ramadan. You can do as you can in light of your circumstances, and in everything we do,there is khair ( goodness and rewards) As long as we are sincere and putting due effect. 

Mastering your anger

Ramadan is an opportunity to practice more God consciousness, and this should less to more self mastery or self control. 

The prophet SAW taught us;

"Fasting is a protection for you, so when youvare fasting, do not behave obscenely or foolishly, and if anyone argues with you or abuses you,say ' I am fasting. I am fasting'.

" ( Muwwatta Malik)

 Whenever you're put in a situation that forces you to be angry or upset or inclined to quarrel, utilitize this opportunity instead to calm yourself down and practice discipline. The rewards in practicing discipline is far greater and more lasting  and fulfilling in this life and the next. 

Giving charity

This is a very beautiful and powerful Hadith about the prophets manners and act in Ramadan. 

Narrated ibn`Abbas:

" The prophet SAW was the most generous of a the people and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when

 Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur'an with him.  Allah's messenger  SAW then used to be more generous than the fasting wind. ( Sahih All bukhari)

  So, seek every option to increase in charity in Ramadan. There are plenty of online and offline opportunities. 

You can also watch me online on Instagram or this blog on how to start becoming more socially active this Ramadan. 

Doing hajj &  umrah every week!

No, I actually don't mean traveling to do umrah or hajj. I mean the act mentioned in the following Hadith. 

Anas bin Malik narrated that;

" The messenger of Allah said: whoever prays fajr in congregation, then sit remembering Allah until the sun has risen. Then he prays two Rakah. Then for him is the reward like that of a hajj and umrah". ( DaIf. Jami at_tirmidhi)

Disclaimer: schoolars have differed regarding the authenticity of this Hadith ; some found it week and others 'hasan'( good).

But,as long as it's not a mater of belief of creed. We can follow virtuous acts, and hope for rewards from Allah SWA. 

.this act of praying fajr, then remaining in the same place to remember Allah until sunrise, then pray two Rakah is no doubt a virtuous act that Allah will reward for. It is also good because if you are busy during the week, you can aim to do this once every weekend, for example, when you don't have work the next day. 

Smiling and forgiving 

These are two simple but powerful acts. 

For some reason, some of us look or act glummy when we're fasting. 

Fasting should make us humble, peaceful. And ease going. Not moody or angry. One way to remind oneself of that is to consciously put a smile on your face when meet other. It is great when or associate your fasting days with your easy going and optimistic nature, and it is sunnah for us to do so. 

The messenger SAW said;

"Your smile in the face of your brother is charity.....' ( At-Titmidhi)

Ladt, but not the least, 

Forgiving those who wronged you !

This Hadith is very motivating: 

" Abu huraira (RAA) narrated that the messenger of Allah( peace be upon him) SAW said:" sadaqah does not decrease property and Allah increases the honor of him who forgives and no one will him himself for Allah's sake expect that Allah raises his status". ( Related by Muslim) 

Imagine that by forgiving, you are increasing in honor, not just in the eyes of people , but in the sight of Allah SWA 

Also, one of the recommended Dua to make in laylatul Wade is this, Aisha ( may Allah be pleased with her ) reported. 

." I asked: o messager of Allah! If I realize lailat-ul-qadr (night of decree), wat should I supplicate in it? He SAW replied , you should supplicate:  

Allahuma innaka affuwwun tuhibbul afwa, fa'fu 'anni( o Allah, you are most forgiving, and you love forgiveness; so forgive me).( At Tirmidhi) 

So imagine in laylatul Wade you are asking Allah's SWA forgiveness, while you are holding grudges against someone else  and refusing to forgive him/her!

Ramadan is major door and major opportunity to reconcile relationship And forgive others for the sake of Allah SWA and in hopes of his own forgiveness for our countless mistakes and short comings.  As Allah SWA said:;

" And let them pardon and overlooked. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is forgiving and merciful." ( Qur'an chapter 24: verse 22)

 So let this month increase you in strength spiritually , personally and socially by increasing in spiritually act and also Making real changes in one's relationship with others. This is how we can have a transformational Ramadan, inshallah.

 Wat other sunnah are you practicing thus Ramadan and how are they boosting your spiritual, social and personal productively? Let us know in the comments. 

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