Sr Alif blogs

From ‘Aa’ishah, RA who said: “The Prophet SAW used to tighten his waist-wrapper (izaar) – (meaning detached himself from his wives in order to worship, and exerted himself in seeking Lailatul-Qadr), spend the night in worship, and wake the family in the last ten nights.”

(Bukhari, Muslim)

A night such as Lailatul Qadr is a special night, let’s not over look the idea of teaching our children about it! 

Points to remind the children about this special Night of Power: 

1. This was not granted to any other religious community (Ummah) before Muslims.

2. Allah gave us this one night to do as much worship as we can do because one night of worship is like worshipping for 1000 months!  And 1000 months equal more than 83 years of your life! Imagine if we can get all our Ibadah done in this one night? How lucky we would be when we have to face our scales on the Day of Judgement? 

3. It is the night in which the Qur’an’s first words were revealed to Muhammad (SAW).

4. It is the night when every matter of ordainment is decreed. 

5. Qadr means Power

Signs of Lailatul Qadr

Allah has kept this night a secret, but we know that it falls in the last 10 days of Ramadan. There are also some signs that reveal which night is Lailatul Qadr:

• The night will be peaceful, neither hot nor cold, with a clear moon shinning but with no rays.
• There will be no shooting stars in the night
• At sunrise the sun will rise as just a disc without and radiant beams of light.
• One companion of the Prophet reported that on Lailatul Qadr he tasted sea water and it was sweet.

Ayahs that talk about Lailatul Qadr in the Quran 

I love this site! It explains about the Tafseer of Suratul Alaq for children. 

You can also teach them the Surah Qadr. The Night of Power. Below is a powerful recitation by a child.

Here is a Quran recitation that can be repeated

Learning Hadith

Narrated ‘Aisha: “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.’” (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 32, Number 234)

Rasool SAW said: “Whoever stands in (Prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of Eemaan and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven.” (Bukhari)

‘Aa’ishah, RA said: “O Messenger of Allaah! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?” He said: “Say: Allaahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee.” (O Allaah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.) (at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

Islamic Story

The knowledge of Lailatul Qadr was removed from Prophet’s memory when he saw two Muslims arguing.

‘Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit, RA said: The Prophet SAW came out intending to tell us about Lailatul-Qadr, however two men were arguing and he said: “I came out to inform you about Lailatul-Qadr but so and so, and, so and so were arguing, so it was raised up, and perhaps that is better for you, so seek it on the (twenty) ninth and (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth.” (Bukhari)

This story teaches the children that Muslims should not fight or even argue among themselves or we lose Barakah. Also, that we can never be sure when is Lailtul Qadr so it’s better to observe all of these nights in the hope of catching the real night. More Ibadah, more Thawab! 

Crafts and Activities

Set up a kids tent for Itikaaf. Equipped with sleeping bags, quran, dua book,  and snacks,  have them set up a little tent in the living room to observe Itikaaf.

Make A family Mobile  from TJ Ramadan - http://tj-ramadan.tripod.com/LastTenDaysMobile.pdf

Make a Cave Hira Painting: Have your child mix sand and brown paint, and paint Cave-Hira. Paint the sky navy blue or black. Add the first Ayat of Suratul Alaq in English. Here is a sample. Write The Night of Power! Lailatul-Qadr in Arabic with glitter. You can also add glitter inside the cave.

Sister Reminder blogs

Just got this email written by Asma bint Shameem, and I thought I should share! 

What if I tell you that I know a way that will ensure that all your prayers are answered, that none of your Du’aas will be rejected and anything that you ask for will be granted? Wouldn’t you like to know what that way is? Wouldn’t you jump at the chance to avail that? But…..what is that way? How can we achieve all this and more?

The answer to that, brothers and sisters, isn’t anything secret or hidden. The answer has been there for ages. Actually, it’s been there for the last 1400 years… We just didn’t look hard enough. We just didn’t pay much attention to it. It is what Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala has promised His slaves every single day….every time he sits down to break his fast.

 The answer lies in the hadeeth of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) when he said:

“Indeed the fasting person has at the time of breaking the fast a supplication, which is not rejected.” (lbn Majah, Saheeh)

And he (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) also said:

“Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father (parent), the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.” (al-Baihaqi, Saheeh)

In another hadeeth, he (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

“There are in the month of Ramadhaan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and will be granted.” [Ahmad, Saheeh]

So Allah answers the Du`aa of the fasting person at iftaar time.

But, alas, most of us are either unaware of this great blessing of Allaah or are too busy thinking about food at this time. Some of us are frying ‘samosas’ till the last minute, setting the table and preparing ‘hot’ food. Some are too busy talking, arguing about the exact time to break the fast, or watching television (may Allah protect us), reading the newspaper and some are even sleeping until after the Maghrib adhaan has been called! And some are busy filling up their plates even before the time to break the fast has entered!

Subhaan Allaah! Allaah is promising us that He will answer our prayers and we are too busy to respond?!!

What a waste of a golden opportunity….a chance of a lifetime to have your supplications accepted!

What is the matter with us? Is food really the most important thing….the ultimate goal of our lives?!! Is it food that Ramadhaan is all about?!!

Why do we not take full advantage of this great gift of Allah? Don’t you see?! Here is your chance to earn Jannah!

Now is the time to ask for forgiveness…for EVERYTHING you have EVER done….And He will forgive you.

Ask Him for guidance for you and your family and He will guide you. 
Ask Him to solve all your problems, and He will find a solution for you.
Ask Him for this Dunyaa and He will grant it to you. And the Aakhirah….He will suffice you.

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“Du’aa’ should be made before iftaar (breaking the fast), at Maghrib, because this combines weakness and humility, and because he is still fasting. All of these are means of having one’s du’aa’ answered.”

It is said that the intelligent is the one who takes advantage of the situation. So don’t let this great opportunity pass you by. Know that Allah listens to the fasting person’s supplication and answers it. So finish all your work and preparations 5 minutes before Iftaar time. Teach this to your kids and your families and encourage them to do the same. Don’t let the Dunyaa distract you. Sit down peacefully, clear your mind of all thoughts, bow your head and raise those hands. Go ahead and make use of this precious…. precious time when you are breaking your fast to ask Allah for all those things that would make your life easy in this world and in the Hereafter. 
And do it with full faith and confidence that Allaah will surely respond.

Why wouldn’t He?? He said so and so He will.

May Allaah accept all of our Ibaadah and all our supplications and grant us Jannah.

Ameen.

Sr Alif blogs

Lesson #1  

Narrated by Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) arrived after the expedition to Tabuk or Khaybar (the narrator is unsure), the draught raised an end of a curtain which was hung in front of her store-room, revealing some dolls which belonged to her.

He asked: What is this? She replied: My dolls. Among them he saw a horse with wings made of rags, and asked: What is this I see among them? She replied: A horse. He asked: What is this that it has on it? She replied: Two wings. He asked: A horse with two wings? She replied: Have you not heard that Solomon had horses with wings? She said: Thereupon the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) laughed so heartily that I could see his molar teeth.

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Make a toy horse with wings to teach kids about this incident! My friend’s 4 year old daughter Ayeshah was quietly playing in the living  room, as I was chatting with her mother. I had to take a sneak peak to look at why she was so quiet. To my pleasant surprise she was not watching television or zoned on Leapster, but playing with a small toy horse. I exclaimed, “Oh Ayesha! That’s exactly what the Prophet’t wife used to play with. She had the same name like you too-Ayeshah. She played with a horse toy too…but her horse  had wings!” “Why did it have wings?” So I told her the hadith about the toy horse. “My horse does not have wings…I know!! I can make my OWN wings!” and then she left in a hurry to her room, and came back with two cut out paper wings and she asked me to help her color the wings as she add the finishing touches. And voila! 

Lesson #2   

Narrated Ar-Rubi’ bint Mu’awadh: The Prophet sent a messenger to the village of the Ansar in the morning of the day of ‘Ashura’ (10th of Muharram) to announce: ‘Whoever has eaten something should not eat but complete the fast, and whoever is observing the fast should complete it.’  She further said, “Since then we used to fast on that day regularly and also make our boys fast. We used to make toys of wool for the boys and if anyone of them cried for, he was given those toys till it was the time of the breaking of the fast.”

Get inspired and teach your children to get busy and creative while fasting- just as their little brothers did from generations ago! Here is a list to of ways to keep the kids occupied and relive our deen’s history from this hadith:

Make Muslim yarn dolls: Crafty? Get creative with Umm Abdul Basir’s Muslim Yarn Dolls. 

Make a Muslim doll : Not that crafty? Use Smart Ark’s simple Doll craft kit.

Make Muslim Paper dolls: Download these paper dolls! From A Muslim Child is Born blog.

Lesson #3 

 It’s so important to study and learn our history and deen directly from the Quran. It is rich in stories that we all can learn from. Teaching Quran may be challenging to some,  but an introduction to all the prophets’ stories is a great way to begin!  

Teaching Islamic Stories using Lego figurines: Older children will enjoy this project a lot. After reading through the many pages of the Quran in this fun and creative form, they will surely inspire to make their own. This is a very effective way to learn from the Quran. Why not make them study Surah Kahf on Friday and then get them to make their own Cave stories with their lego pieces? 

These are just ideas to interest your child in Islam by using the means that they enjoy the most.  If something worked for you and your child, we would love to hear from you and add it to this list! Write to us at jannahsteps@gmail.com

Sr Reminder blogs

I pray that we all are able to make lots of dua and ibadah these last few days of Ramadan.

Sr Reminder blogs

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Sister Reminder blogs

Sister Reminder blogs

Since the commencement of Dhul Hijjah, I have been revisiting the last khutbah a lot that was given by Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) on the Day of Arafah. As I am not with the excited pilgrims in Mecca to perform Hajj, it has more than helped me get into the mood of this blessed month. While I read each line, tears stream down my cheeks. Picture the sight it might have been to our ummah who witnessed it that day. Imagine their thoughts when they heard their beloved Messenger say “O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don’t know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again.” Sigh, I just get goose bumps every time I think about how this last speech might have affected all those who were present and while emotions run high performing Hajj as it is, they also heard for the first time the mention of their dear Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) possibly not being among them soon. I can hardly visualize how their minds might have digested this thought.

“….Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.” Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) commanded those who were present to convey the message to those who were not. He passed away in the following year on 12 Rabi’Awal AH.  And hundreds of years after this speech was given and recorded, we sit here today reading this speech with our hearts heavy and minds geared towards his message!

His khutbah was a reminder for all of us, a reminder of what the main highlights of Islam were that we needed to focus on. How beautifully he recapitulated the points for us. It might not have been an easy task to give a fairly short speech summarizing the last 23 years of Islam that were revealed to the people in Arabia.

Let’s make our goals for the new year, and let’s try and be mindful of these points that our dear Rasul (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) stressed upon.

“Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds.”

Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) ended with this dua…

“All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly.”

Let’s fulfill his last wish….let’s try and focus on these main points and build ourselves to be better Muslims for our ummah and in the hope that we have understood these words BETTER than the ones who listened to him directly.

I end with a verse that Allah revealed to him as soon as this khutbah was given…

Sister Reminder blogs

Official Announcement from the High Judiciary Council  of Saudi Arabia…

Wednesday 18 November 2009 is 1 Dhul-Hijjah.  Muslims performing Hajj will be in ‘Arafah  on Thursday 26 November 2009 (9 Dhul-Hijjah 1430),   and the Muslim Ummah shall be celebrating ‘Eid ul-Adha  on Friday 27 November 2009, (10 Dhul-Hijjah 1430).  Insha-Allaah.

PS: Beautiful Hajj pictures from last year. Please view here.

Sister Reminder blogs