Thursday, July 17, 2014

Powerful Tips for the Last 10 Nights of Ramadhan

 This is a cut and paste post.. Tqvm Cheqna.  These tips are from Sheikh Tawfique Chowdhury.

1. Do not let your 'performance' until now affect your last 10 days. The moment of forgiveness could be today or anytime in the coming days! It is not all lost! If you sincerely wish it could have been better - Chin up and get ready to make it your best yet! Start with a positive, sincere intention!

2. Today, take a little time to read the Tafseer of Surah al-Qadr to understand what actually happens this night! You will feel its power & greatness so much more!

3. Do not wait for the 27th Night to give it your "all". The entire last 10 days should be your target. Stay up each night! Would you want to miss Laylatul Qadr even "by chance"?

4. Do not fall into any innovations/celebrations any masjid or culture might try to promote. Follow the Sunnah! The Prophet (sallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) guided us simply: "Whoever stays up and prays on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”

5. Memorize and keep asking the dua' taught by Rasulullah (sallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam): Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’affu ‘anni (O Allaah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me).

6. Prepare a short dua' list. Remember this is as awesome as it ever gets for a servant of Allah! The Night of Qadr, of Destiny! Consciously pick each and everything you crucially wish for in this dunya, in your deen, family, and in your aakhirah! Don't forget to include the brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering and in grief!

7. Take brief naps during the day, if possible. Keep your stomach light and sleep as soon as you have prayed 'isha. Do not delay! After a brief nap, refresh yourself and get. ready for worship.

8. Don't neglect your family! Rasulullah made it a point to wake up his wives throughout these nights! And yes, your children are not too young to stay up some part of the night - if they can be allowed to play video games or watch TV, they can be inspired to be up atleast for sometime! Prepare them, make them excited, plan some activities for them to do!

 9. Look the Part: The way we dress and prepare.has a big effect on our psychology. Wear your best, perfume yourself, and feel the energy!

10. Choose a spot, whether in the Masjid or in your home, where you can have peace and solitude. Keep your mushaf, praying mat, and water at hand so that you are not distracted by constantly getting up for this or that.

11. IMP: This is not the night to tweet pics or update FB statuses about how amazing the night is and how you are feeling & worshipping Allah! Let that be a secret between you & your Rabb! So switch off those phones, wifi, laptops and computers. Disconnect with the world, and connect with al-'Afuww!

12. If you find yourself feeling sleepy, vary your acts of worship. Alternate between qiyaam, heartfelt dua'a, reading the Qur'an. Do not spend the night listening to lectures or recitations. Or do it only for a short while when you feel the sleep coming on!

13. Patience is the Key: The last 10 days might be tiring. You might still have work or school. This is the time to bear all that hardship, and keep firm sabr. Think how Allah has blessed you with this tremendous opportunity that might NEVER come again in your life again. If you knew for sure that this was your last Ramadan , if you knew certainly that Jannah was up for grabs, wouldn't you sprint for it no matter what it takes?

14. This is most important: Keep husn adh-dhann bi Allah (good expectations from Allah). When you ask, remember you are asking the Most Generous King. If you hope for the best, He will give you the best. Don't hold back. Trust in Him, pour out your heart in front of Him, and let no doubt, no barrier, no evil thoughts keep you away from ar-
Rahman, ar-Raheem!

Allahumma ballighna laylatal qadr..

Thursday, June 12, 2014

KELEBIHAN NISFU SYAABAN

Artikel ini saya copy paste dari WhatsApp    Dipost oleh a friend DKN.. Untuk ingatan saya... Malam ini malam Jumaat 12 June 2014 difahamkan ialah malam Nisfu Syaaban
Nisfu Syaaban (Nisf bermaksud separuh) adalah peristiwa hari ke-15 dalam bulan Syaaban tahun Hijrah. Umat Islam mempercayai yang pada malam Nisfu Syaaban, amalan akan dibawa naik oleh Malaikat untuk ditukar dengan lembaran amalan yang baru setelah setahun berlalu. 

Pengertian am Nisfu Syaaban dalam bahasa Arab bererti setengah. Nisfu Syaaban bererti setengah bulan Syaaban. Malam Nisfu Syaaban adalah malam ke-15 Syaaban iaitu siangnya 14 haribulan Syaaban.

Dalam Raudatul Ulamak dan diriwayatkan bahawa Rasulullah SAW bersabda:
أَتَدْرُونَ لِمَ سُمِّيَ شَعْبَانَ؟ قَالُوا: اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمْ. قَالَ: ِلأَنَّهُ يَتَشَعَّبُ فِيهِ خَيْرٌ كَثِيرٌ.
Yang bermaksud, Tahukah kamu kenapa bulan ini dinamakan Syaaban? Para sahabat menjawab: Allah dan RasulNya mengetahui. 

Baginda bersabda: Ianya dinamakan demikian kerana bercabang-cabang dan banyak kebaikan padanya.
Firman Allah,
فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ.
Yang bermaksud, Pada malam yang berkat itu, dijelaskan (kepada malaikat) tiap-tiap perkara yang mengandungi hikmat serta tetap berlaku, (tidak berubah atau bertukar).

Al-Dukhaan: 4
‘Ikrimah dan sebahagian ulamak tafsir menjelaskan bahawa perkataan malam pada ayat ini bermaksud malam nisfu syaaban.
Di sini dinyatakan kelebihan malam nisfu Syaaban sebagaimana sabda Nabi saw,
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَقُومُوا لَيْلَهَا وَصُومُوا نَهَارَهَا، فَإِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يَنْزِلُ فِيهَا لِغُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ: أَلاَ مُسْـتَغْفِر فَأَغْفِر لَهُ، أَلاَ مَسْتَرْزق فَأَرْزُقهُ، أَلاَ مُبْتَلى فَأُعَافِيه، أَلاَ كَذَا، أَلاَ كَذَا حَتَّى يَطلعُ الفَجْر.
Yang bermaksud, Rasulullah saw telah bersabda: Apabila tiba malam Nisfu Syaaban maka kamu hidupkanlah malamnya dan kamu berpuasa di siang harinya, sesungguhnya Allah turun (hampir) padanya dari terbenam matahari ke langit dunia dan berfirman: Sekiranya terdapat orang yang memohon keampunan maka Aku ampunkannya, sekiranya terdapat orang yang meminta rezeki maka Aku beri rezeki kepadanya, sekiranya terdapat orang yang ditimpa bala maka Aku sejahterakannya, sekiranya begitu… sekiranya begini… sehinggalah terbitnya fajar. (Riwayat Ibnu Majah)

Sabda Rasulullah saw,
إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَنْزِلُ إِلَى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا لَيْلَةَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَيَغْفِرُ لأَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَعْرِ غَنَمِ بَنِى كَلْبٍ.
Yang bermaksud, Sesungguhnya Allah Azza wa Jalla turun ke langit dunia pada malam Nisfu Syaaban maka diberikannya keampunan terlebih banyak daripada bulu kambing Bani Kalb.
(Riwayat daripada Imam Ahmad, al-Tirmizi dan Ibnu Majah).

Terdapat pula dalam hadith yang diriwayatkan daripada Abu Hurairah r.a berkata: Rasulullah saw telah bersabda,
أَتَانِى جِبْرِيلُ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ، وَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدٌ هَذِهِ لَيْلَةُ تُفْتَحُ فِيهَا أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَأَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ، فَقُمْ وَصَلِّ وَارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ وَيَدَيْكَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ. فَقُلْتُ يَا جِبْرِيلُ مَا هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةُ؟ فَقَالَ: هَذِهِ لَيْلَةُ تُفْتَحُ فِيهَا ثَلاَثُمائَةِ بَابٍ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ، فَيَغْفِرُ اللهُ تَعَالَى لِجَمِيعِ مَنْ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللهِ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ مَنْ كَانَ سَاحِرًا أَوْ كَاهِنًا أَوْ مُشَاحِنًا أَوْ مُدْمِنَ خَمْرٍ أَوْ مُضِرًّا عَلَى الزِّنَا أَوْ آكِلَ الرِّبَا أَوْ عَاقَ الوَالِدَيْنِ أَوِ النَّمَّامِ أَوْ قَاطِعَ الرَّحِمِ، فَإِنَّ هَؤُلاَءِ لاَ يُغْفِرُ لَهُمْ حَتَّى يَتُوبُوا وَيَتْرُكُوا. فَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ فَصَلَّى وَبَكَى فِى سُجُودِهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُبِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ وَسَخَطِكَ وَلاَ أُحْصِى ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ فَلَكَ الحَمْدُ حَتَّى تَرْضَى.

Yang bermaksud, Jibril a.s pernah datang kepadaku pada malam Nisfu Syaaban seraya berkata: Wahai Muhammad, inilah malam yang dibuka padanya pintu-pintu langit dan pintu-pintu rahmat. Maka bangunlah kamu, bersolatlah dan angkatlah kepala dan kedua tanganmu ke langit. Maka aku bertanya: Wahai Jibril malam apakah ini? 
Maka jawabnya: Inilah malam yang dibuka padanya tiga ratus pintu rahmat, Allah mengurniakan keampunan bagi mereka yang tidak menyekutukan sesuatu dengan Allah dan rahmat ini tidak diberikan kepada tukang sihir, tukang tenung nasib, orang yang bermarah-marahan, orang yang kekal meminum arak, orang yang berzina, orang yang makan riba, orang yang derhaka kepada ibu bapanya, tukang mengadu domba dan orang yang memutuskan silaturrahim. Maka sesungguhnya mereka itu tidak diampunkan sehingga mereka bertaubat dan meninggalkan perbuatan tersebut. 

Lalu Nabi saw pun keluar dan bersolat sambil menangis dalam sujudnya dan diucapkannya: Sesungguhnya aku berlindung kepada Engkau daripada seksaan dan kemurkaanMu. 
Dan tidaklah aku dapat menghitung segala pujian kepadaMu, Engkau sebagaimana Engkau memuji diriMu sendiri maka bagiMu segala pujian sehingga Engkau redha.

Imam Syafi‘e berkata: Lima malam yang dimustajabkan doa ialah malam Jumaat, malam 2 hari raya, malam awal Rejab dan malam Nisfu Syaaban.

Daripada Saidina Umar Abdul Aziz r.a, beliau menulis kepada pegawainya di Basrah:
Bagi kamu empat malam yang istimewa dalam setahun. 

Pada malam tersebut Allah mengagihkan kerahmataNya sepenuhnya. Malam-malam itu ialah malam awal Rejab, malam Nisfu Syaaban, malam Idul Fitri dan malam Idul Adha.

Apabila tiba bulan Rejab, Rasulullah saw berdoa dengan doa ini,
اَللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِى رَجَب وَشَعْبَانَ وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَانَ
Justeru, pada Nisfu Syaaban kita digalakkan untuk berpuasa di siangnya serta menghidupkan malamnya dengan memperbanyakkan ibadah seperti membaca al-Quran, beristighfar dan melakukan solat sunat. Kemudian mohonlah doa supaya diampunkan segala dosa, ditutup sebarang keaiban, dimurahkan rezeki dan dimudahkan segala kesusahan.

KAIFIYYAT MEMBACA DOA MALAM NISFU SYAABAN

Membaca surah Yasin tiga kali, tiap-tiap satu kali bacaan Yasin, dibaca satu kali doa.
1. Bacaan pertama dengan meminta dipanjangkan umur.
2. Bacaan kedua dengan niat menolak bala.
3. Bacaan ketiga dengan niat terkaya daripada manusia.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى سَـيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، اَللَّهُمَّ يَا ذَاالمَنِّ وَلاَ يَمُنُّ عَلَيْهِ يَا ذَاالجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ، يَا ذَاالطَّوْلِ وَالإِنْعَامِ، لاَ اِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ظَهْرَ اللاَّجِينَ وَجَارَ المُسْـتَجِيرِينَ وَمَأْمَنَ الخَائِفِينَ، اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَتَبْـتَنِي عِنْدَكَ فِى أُمِّ الكِتَابِ شَقِيًّا أَوْ مَحْرُومًا أَوْ مَطْرُودًا أَوْ مُقْـتَرًّا عَلَيَّ فِى الرِزْقِ فَامْحُ اللَّهُمَّ بِفَضْلِكَ شَقَاوَتِي وَحِرْمَانِي وَطَرْدِي وَاقْتِتَارِ رِزْقِي وَأَثْبِتْـنِي عِنْدَكَ فِى أُمِّ الكِتَابِ سَعِيدًا مَرْزُوقًا مُوَفِّقًا لِلْخَيْرَاتِ فَإِنَّكَ قُلْتَ وَقَوْلُكَ الحَقُّ المُنَزَّلُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيَّكَ المُرْسَلِ يَمْحُوا اللهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثَبِّتُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الكِتَابِ اِلَهِي بِالتَّجَلِّى الأَعْظَمِ فِى لَيْلَةِ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ المُكَرَّمِ الَّتِى يُفْرَقُ فِيهَا كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ وَيُبْرَمُ، أَسْـأَلُكَ أَنْ تَكْشِفَ عَنَّا مِنَ البَلاَءِ مَا نَعْلَمُ وَمَا لاَ نَعْلَمُ وَمَا أَنَتَ بِهِ أَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ الأَعَزُّ الأَكْرَمُ، وَصَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى سَـيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ.
Rujukan:
Kitab al-Nafahat al-Nuraniyyah fi Fadhail al-Ayyam wa al-Layali wa al-Syuhur al-Qamariyah.

Wallahua'alam.

Monday, June 2, 2014

How to Convert to Islam and Become a Muslim

Live Help by Chat

Online daily:
from 1:00 AM to 4:00 AM
(according to your computer time)

The word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will of God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background. Becoming a Muslim is a simple and easy process that requires no pre-requisites. One may convert alone in privacy, or he/she may do so in the presence of others.

If anyone has a real desire to be a Muslim and has full conviction and strong belief that Islam is the true religion of God, then, all one needs to do is pronounce the “Shahada”, the testimony of faith, without further delay. The “Shahada” is the first and most important of the five pillars of Islam.

With the pronunciation of this testimony, or “Shahada”, with sincere belief and conviction, one enters the fold of Islam.

Upon entering the fold of Islam purely for the Pleasure of God, all of one’s previous sins are forgiven, and one starts a new life of piety and righteousness. The Prophet said to a person who had placed the condition upon the Prophet in accepting Islam that God would forgive his sins:

“Do you not know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which come before it?” (Saheeh Muslim)

When one accepts Islam, they in essence repent from the ways and beliefs of their previous life. One need not be overburdened by sins committed before their acceptance. The person’s record is clean, and it is as if he was just born from his mother’s womb. One should try as much as possible to keep his records clean and strive to do as many good deeds as possible.

The Holy Quran and Hadeeth (prophetic sayings) both stress the importance of following Islam. God states:

“...The only religion in the sight of God is Islam...” (Quran 3:19)

In another verse of the Holy Quran, God states:

“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter, he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (their selves in the Hellfire).” (Quran 3:85)

In another saying, Muhammad, the Prophet of God, said:

“Whoever testifies that there in none worthy of being worshipped but God, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and Prophet, and that Jesus is the Slave of God, His Prophet, and His word[1] which He bestowed in Mary and a spirit created from Him; and that Paradise (Heaven) is true, and that the Hellfire is true, God will eventually admit him into Paradise, according to his deeds.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet of God, may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, also reported:

“Indeed God has forbidden to reside eternally in Hell the person who says: “I testify that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah (God),’ seeking thereby the Face of God.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The Declaration of the Testimony (Shahada)

To convert to Islam and become a Muslim a person needs to pronounce the below testimony with conviction and understanding its meaning:

I testify “La ilah illa Allah, Muhammad rasoolu Allah.”

The translation of which is:

“I testify that there is no true god (deity) but God (Allah), and that Muhammad is a Messenger (Prophet) of God.”

To hear it click here or click on “Live Help” above for assistance by chat.

When someone pronounces the testimony with conviction, then he/she has become a Muslim.  It can be done alone, but it is much better to be done with an adviser through the “Live Help” at top, so we may help you in pronouncing it right and to provide you with important resources for new Muslims.

The first part of the testimony consists of the most important truth that God revealed to mankind: that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God. God states in the Holy Quran:

“We did not send the Messenger before you without revealing to him: ‘none has the right to be worshipped except I, therefore worship Me.’” (Quran 21:25)

This conveys that all forms of worship, whether it be praying, fasting, invoking, seeking refuge in, and offering an animal as sacrifice, must be directed to God and to God alone. Directing any form of worship to other than God (whether it be an angel, a messenger, Jesus, Muhammad, a saint, an idol, the sun, the moon, a tree) is seen as a contradiction to the fundamental message of Islam, and it is an unforgivable sin unless it is repented from before one dies. All forms of worship must be directed to God only.

Worship means the performance of deeds and sayings that please God, things which He commanded or encouraged to be performed, either by direct textual proof or by analogy. Thus, worship is not restricted to the implementation of the five pillars of Islam, but also includes every aspect of life. Providing food for one’s family, and saying something pleasant to cheer a person up are also considered acts of worship, if such is done with the intention of pleasing God. This means that, to be accepted, all acts of worship must be carried out sincerely for the Sake of God alone.

The second part of the testimony means that Prophet Muhammad is the servant and chosen messenger of God. This implies that one obeys and follows the commands of the Prophet. One must believe in what he has said, practice his teachings and avoid what he has forbidden. One must therefore worship God only according to his teaching alone, for all the teachings of the Prophet were in fact revelations and inspirations conveyed to him by God.

One must try to mold their lives and character and emulate the Prophet, as he was a living example for humans to follow. God says:

“And indeed you are upon a high standard of moral character.” (Quran 68:4)

God also said:

“And in deed you have a good and upright example in the Messenger of God, for those who hope in the meeting of God and the Hereafter, and mentions God much.” (Quran 33:21)

He was sent in order to practically implement the Quran, in his saying, deeds, legislation as well as all other facets of life. Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, when asked about the character of the Prophet, replied:

“His character was that of the Quran.” (As-Suyooti)

To truly adhere to the second part of the Shahada is to follow his example in all walks of life. God says:

“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): ‘If you (really) love God, then follow me.’” (Quran 3:31)

It also means that Muhammad is the Final Prophet and Messenger of God, and that no (true) Prophet can come after him.

“Muhammad is not the father of any man among you but he is the Messenger of God and the last (end) of the Prophets and God is Ever All-Aware of everything.” (Quran 33:40)

All who claim to be prophets or receive revelation after Muhammad are imposters, and to acknowledge them would be tantamount to disbelief.

We welcome you to Islam, congratulate you for your decision, and will try to help you in any way we can.



Footnotes:

[1] God created him through His statement, “Be!”