But we must be sincere, and change for the better now.
Because if not now, when?
May Allah help us to serve Him alone, make us sincere and successful, and the people of paradise. Allah bestow blessings upon His last prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Amin
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Let’s fulfil the 3rd pillar of Islam: ZAKAT, obligatory charity tax.
Zakat or Zakaah/Zakah, means purification or growth.
In Islam, it is paying 2.5% of all your wealth (if it reaches the nisaab/thresholdat which you become eligible to pay Zakat) to those who are entitled to receive Zakat, including the poor and needy, in obedience to Allah. Charity is an integral teaching in our faith.
DID YOU KNOW? Zakat is such an important pillar in our religion, Allah has mentioned it in the Qur’an multiple times, and the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him taught us about it.
There are multiple References in The Qur’an and in Sahih Hadith.
‘Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler – an obligation [imposed] by Allah . And Allah is Knowing and Wise.‘
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) sent Mu`adh to Yemen and said, “Invite the people to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I am Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers in every day and night (in twenty-four hours), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has made it obligatory for them to pay the Zakat from their property and it is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor.” Sahih al Bukhari
How to tell if you owe Zakat? Keep a regular check of your assets, then the moment your wealth reaches the Nisab level (minimum threshold at which you have to start paying Zakat), then you calculate your Zakat each year accordingly.
Example: On 21st Ramadan 1440 (May 2019), you acquired £500 through the full lunar year (Islamic Hijir calendar). The nisab level was approximately worth £250 (based on silver weight prices). Therefore, you must pay 2.5% of £500 in charity as Zakat to fulfil your obligation to Allah. So £500×0.025= £12.50 as Zakat
Now it is 21st Ramadan 1441, (year 2020) 1 year on, and you have £700. The nisab value is around £240, you own that and more. So you will pay Zakat on this day at 2.5% of £700. so £700x 0.025= £17.50 as Zakat
And you note in your calendar next year on the 21st Ramadan 1442ah (in year 2021) you will schedule calculation and payment of Zakat again. In sha Allah
Therefore, your annual Zakat date, or Zakat anniversary is 21ST RAMADAN each year, and it’s your personal deadline by which you must calculate and pay Zakat.
If you need help calculating, lots of Muslim charity organisations can help you out, lots of charities have Zakat calculators, Islamic relief calculator, or you can try National Zakat Foundation’s (NZF) calculator, it’s UK-based and they’ve set up an organised step-by-step calculation system on their website, have a look here: NZF Zakat calculator
Assets are not limited to money, it includes gold, silver and more if you have businesses/shares, rental income/ property and what such. You also factor in your deductible assets, consider debts and bills (check the NZF calculator link above).
If you have gold or silver jewellery, you need to weigh it and calculate the price on the current market value of gold or silver on the day.
So if you have 50g of 24carat gold, the market value today right now is £45.61 per gram. Thats 45.61GBP x 50grams = £2280.50
You pay zakat on 2.5% of £2280.50, or simply 2280.50 x 0.025= £57.03 Zakat (rounded up).
Also, it doesn’t have to be Ramadan when you’re Zakat is due, you may be paying it in another month, depending on when your wealth reached the Nisab value. To read more about Zakat, check out the links at the end of this post. **
Keep it organised in sha Allah and you can fulfil your obligation to Allah, have blessings in your wealth, be stress free and aware of your assets. By the way, everything ultimately belongs to Allah, we are just being tested with what we’ve been entrusted with!
Purify what Allah gave us and spend in His path, in sha Allah , Allah will increase us in good.
Many times we may have been falling short, so be sure to do your best to make up for any short fall as soon as possible. And if you are tested with a shortage in wealth, you only have to pay less Zakat , and by trusting Allah, making tawbah, in sha Allah we will see better days again.
Never think zakat will decrease your wealth, believe Allah will purify it and increase it.
Of us are those with poor and needy relatives, let’s not forget them in sha Allah when paying Zakat and Sadaqah.
Give and Allah will increase you. Let’s take this opportunity to give Sadaqah too, we only have a few days left of this blessed month.
Dua- Remember to say Ameen to our supplication! Alhamdulillah for everything.
May Allah, The Ever-Living, The One True God, The Rich, The Merciful, The Most Powerful, forgive all our errors and guide us to the straight path. May Allah grant us the sincerity and ability to obey Him and fulfil His commands and may He enable us to follow the perfect example of His final Messenger and Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Allah protect us from all evil and grant us all good and may Allah help us to remember Him always. May Allah not make Ramadan leave us, except that we are forgiven and guided and may Allah bless and increase us in good, Allah preserve our religion, our worldly life, our hereafter, our health, our family, our wealth, youth, ability, time, our safety, our ummah, our community, our neighbours our nation, our countries our world. Allah guide all of us to His love and mercy. May Allah unite us with the prophets peace be upon them, Allah make us pious and the inheritors of jannat al firdaus, paradise. Allah forgive us and our parents, our grandparents, our predecessors, our families , future generations our successors and all of us. Allah help us to worship Him alone, with perfect understanding of His Oneness, Tawhid, and Allah protect us from major and minor sins. Allah make us true followers of the sunnah of prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, like the companions of the prophet, may Allah be pleased with them. May Allah, The One without partners, forgive us and grant us cures and mercy and lift the calamities and bring peace to all of us. Wasallallahu alaa nabiyina Muhammad. Oh Allah accept, Amin.
Please keep us in your generous duas, today, tonight, during laylatul Qadr, on Friday, all the special times. wa jazakumullahu khairan
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Come and join a gathering where Allah is mentioned. Let’s win this Ramadan in sha Allah.
*RAMADAN FAMILY EVENT*
Taleem would like to invite you to a special family dinner Ramadan event. Join us for a beneficial convention exploring tips on how to prepare for Ramadan.
Let’s get ready for Ramadan in obedience to our Most Merciful Rabb, Allah!
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
It is hoped this will inform us of the primary reasons we fast, what is required of us and what to hope for.
May Allah, The Supreme Creator, permit us to fast for none but Him alone, may He reward us for our endeavours, and may He permit us to strive to avoid that which nullifies the fast, and strive to adhere to what maintains and perfects it, in accordance with the teachings of His final prophet peace be upon him. Ameen.
DISCLAIMER: This is for educational purposes and serves as an introduction to the issues pertaining to fasting. Parents/guardians are advised to supervise the following read as some issues which pertain to married adults have been mentioned. Please consult a knowledgeable Islamic scholar (and trustworthy medical professional) for details, particularly for questions and advice related to individual circumstances. We are not scholars and thus cannot issue fatwa, however we endeavour relate to you the words of the scholars who have studied the authentic teachings of Islam from the Qur’an and the Sunnah of prophet Muhammad upon him be peace. And ultimately, Allah knows best.
Fiqh of Fasting – Part 7 (adapted mainly from Sh. Yahya Adel Ibrahim with notes from others)
Summary of Siyam (Fasting) Essentials
What is the meaning of “Siyam?”
The word “siyam” comes from the root word “sowm,” which means “to abstain from.”
Did Muslims fast before 2 A.H.?
Yes, in fact the Prophet sala Allahu alihi wasSalaam and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to fast on various days, including:
1. Day of Ashura (the exodus) when Allah delivered Musa sala Allahu alihi wasSalaam and the Muslims of that time from the evil of Pharaoh. The Prophet (upon him be peace) taught us to fast two days—either the day before or after plus the actual day of Ashura.
2. On the day of Arafat, if not making Hajj
3. The first 9 Days of dhul-Hijjah
4. Mondays & Thursdays through out the year
5. The middle three days of each lunar month (13th, 14th & 15th) when he moon is at its brightest
6. There are some proofs by way of Khadija (May Allah be pleased with her) who reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast before the prophethood—but we do not know the exact days.
Why was Siyam ordered?
The answer to this question lies only with Allah. However, we can find that there are many benefits and bits of wisdom behind this pious and sincere act.
1. Increases one’s Taqwa (remembrance of Allah in daily affairs), as is stated in the Quran: Surah Baqara verse 183.
2. Trains the body, mind and spirit to bear hardships while remaining patient.
3. Trains the body, mind and spirit to hold back from the natural desires of the human: food, drink, anger, lust, etc.
4. To help one understand what the impoverished go though.
What is the importance of the month of Ramadan?
This is the month in which the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed. This is the month where every dua’ reaches Allah. This is the month where the Muslims are protected from the evil whisperings of the shayateen. This is the month where one plants the seeds of worship, the seeds of taqwa in the earth and harvests the good deeds for sustenance throughout the year. And most importantly, this is the month in which the Quran was revealed—more specifically, on the night of Lailat-ul-Qadr.
Who must fast?
1. One who is Muslim
2. One who has Aql (mental faculties are sound and understands the responsibility of fasting)
3. One who has reached the age of puberty (signs include: growth of pubic hair or nocturnal emissions, emitting maniy, or reaching 15 years of age, occurrence of menses)
4. One who is Kaadir (able to maintain the fast)
What is the requirement for the fast?
Very simply, the fast begins with the niya (intention-this need not be verbal, rather intention resides in the heart)—this is a pre Requisite/ Shart—and then refraining from food, drink and things that break the fast, until the time for Maghrib has arrived.
It must be noted by the reader that one cannot just wake up in the morning and proclaim his fast for that day. This was only allowed for the Prophet sala Allahu alihi wasSalaam. Rather, for the followers, there needs to be mental recognition of the fast BEFORE FAJR in other than the month of Ramadan.
What breaks the fast?
1. Eating
2. Drinking
3. Sexual relations/intimate acts of any type that leads to male or female sexual discharge,
4. Haid (menstrual bleeding)
5. Nifas (post natal bleeding)
6. Intentional vomiting
7. Needles that give you nourishment
For further clarification on some issues:
a. Blood testing is okay
b. If one needs to take Insulin then that person cannot fast
c. Using the puffer for asthma patients is okay—the respiratory type only.
• If the couple have intercourse intentionally then they have to make up that day and they have to fast 60 days consecutively, or if unable feed 60 people or Kafarah
What is Kafarah?
This is given only as expiation for sexual infractions during the fast. There are three methods of expiation:
1. Freeing of a slave
2. Fast for 60 consecutive days. If one day is missed then you would start from the beginning again
3. If you are unable to fast, for a legitimate reason (sick, old,etc.) then you may feed 60 miskeen (poor) people. They have to be Muslim people and it can happen on one day as a feast. Also, one can just give the money to feed 60 people. This is considered a debt for that person and they should fulfil it before their death. If they do die then the relatives can either fast for them or feed the miskeen.
What about those that cannot fast, but are of age?
Of those who are excused from the fast are those who have a long-term sickness, the pregnant woman, the woman who is breast-feeding and the traveller. For the traveller, the fast is to be made up. But for the others, they are to pay the Fidya (please note, there is a scholarly difference of opinion regarding who can pay fidyah instead of making up fasts- please consult a scholar for your own case, see the links below). Fidya is to pay for a meal for one miskeen person for everyday that is missed. Like the Kafarah, one can arrange to give 30 days worth of money at one time, or arrange a feast for 30 miskeen people on one day.
Confused about your case? Contact a knowledgabe Mufti (try calling up on the Ask the Sheikh programmes on Eman Channel, or similar.)
The Sunnan of Fasting
1. The sahoor and iftaar should be done with the family. If the family is not available then one should make an effort to never break the fast alone.
2. To hurry up with breaking the iftaar—not to delay it. But the sahoor can be delayed right up until the time for Fajr enters.
3. To break the fast with dates, or at least 3 sips of water.
4. To make dua’ of breaking the fast. (“Dhahaba al-zamau’a, wa abtallat al-‘urooq wa thabata al-ajr insha Allah (Thirst has gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is assured, if Allaah wills).” see Arabic below )
5. To increase in acts of ibada (recitation of the Quran) and this should continue after the month of Ramadan has passed.
6. To give more sadaqa (charity).
7. To offer the tahajud prayers and the tarrawih prayers (in congregation).
8. To feed other Muslims, even if they are not needy—meaning to invite people to your house for the iftaar. In fact, when you invite people the host receives the reward that his guest earned on that day (while the guest retains his own reward). This is true even for the one who finances an iftaar, or one who prepares the food.
The Makrooh (hated things) of Fasting
1. To be excessive in rinsing with water, during wudu or other times. Having too much water in the mouth might cause a person to swallow some.
2. To unnecessarily taste food. There cannot be any swallowing and the tongue should be cleaned of any residual taste.
3. Kissing your spouse.
4. To sexually excite/touch your spouse.
5. To lie, to make ghiba (back biting), to do nameema (telling lies to cause two parties to fight). In fact, those who practice nameema do not enter paradise with the first set of Muslims.
6. To not pray the tarrawih or tahajjud in the last 10 days.
What are some the Voluntary Fasts that one may do?
1. The fast of the Prophet Dawood (peace be upon him) was mentioned by Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as the best. It includes one day of fasting and one day of resting, continuously.
2. The best months for fasting include: Sha’ban, Muharram, Ramadan,Dhul Hijja.
3. The 13th, 14th & 15th of every Islamic month. The reward of fasting these three days is like having fasted an entire year.
4. Mondays and Thursdays—for these are the two days that the angels rise and descend with your deeds; i.e. the gates of heaven are open.(This refers to Maghrib time)
5. The 9th day of Dhul Hijja (for the ones not performing the hajj).This is the day of Arafat and fasting on this day ensures that the minor sins for the previous year and the coming year are forgiven.
Allah knows best!
May Allah make this benefit us, and this advice is to us before it is to you our beloved readers.
May Allah allow us to succeed this Ramadan and may He forgive us for He is the Oft-Forgiving, The Forbearing! May Allah forgive us for any errors in this and grant us correctness. Wasallallahu alaa nabiyina Muhammad.Amin
According to Britannica Encyclopaedia, Christmas has become a Christian festival where Christians believe they are celebrating the birth of Christ, or Jesus. Historically, however, the date coincides with pagan Roman festivals which celebrated the winter solstice. It is believed that early Christians wanted to celebrate the 25th to coincide with the pagan festival. There is no clear statement in the New testament supporting the celebration of Jesus’ birth on the 25th. Nevertheless, it is still widely celebrated in that manner.
So basically in a nutshell, Christmas day has pagan origins!
And did you know, there are many groups and sections of society who do not celebrate Christmas, such as Jewish people, some atheists, and even some Christians.
So do Muslims celebrate Christmas? In Islam, the MOST IMPORTANT belief is that of Islamic monotheism. That is, we are commanded to submit to and believe in Allah (The One True God), and attribute complete Oneness to Allah as He deserves in His Lordship, Names and Attributes and right to be worshipped alone.
Consequently, as a Muslim, i.e. one who submits to Allah (The One True God), we believe that we must abandon and turn away from anything that contradicts the principles of Islamic monotheism. Polytheism, idolatry and ascribing partners to Allah are MAJOR SINS! The biggest sin which Allah will not forgive, is ascribing partners to Him !
‘Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.’ [Qur’an, chapter 4, verse 48- English interpretation]
Allah is so self-sufficient, it does not befit His Majesty to take a son or wife, or to beget or be begotten. He does not resemble His creation, for He is the uncreated Creator, and there is no similitude to Him.
In fact, a remarkably concise description of Allah can be found in chapter 112 of The Noble Qur’an, which is the verbatim words of Allah, and Allah’s final revealed book to mankind.
Have a listen to this chapter here:
Regarding Jesus (peace be upon him), in Islam we believe he was a mighty messenger of Allah. Jesus, or Isa in Arabic, was born a miraculous birth, from the virgin Mary. We refer to Jesus as ‘Isa ibnu Maryam, which means Jesus son of Mary. Jesus did not have a father, and he is not the son of God/Allah, because as we mentioned earlier, it does not befit the majesty of Allah to beget. Allah decreed that Jesus would be born miraculously without a father from the pure chaste virgin Mary. We respect them very much and we know that Jesus never claimed divinity, rather Jesus called his people to worship Allah alone, the same message each prophet and messenger of Allah called to. Jesus’ (peace be upon him) story can be found in the Qur’an in numerous places. (for more information, please see the upcoming post on chapter 19 of the Qur’an entitled Maryam!)
Incidentally, Paganism supports polytheism. Polytheism means worshipping multiple deities. Therefore, the Christian Trinity is essentially polytheism. And as previously mentioned in this blog, Islam means submission to the One True God, Allah, and our purpose in life is to acknowledge Allah’s complete Oneness, to uphold Islamic monotheism, and to attribute absolute Oneness to Allah in His Lordship, names and attributes and right to be worshipped alone.
In honesty, Muslims don’t really party on Christmas. But despite that, we still spread peace and justice the best we can with everyone, regardless of our differences.
Because the truth is, as Muslims, the most important One to us is Allah, and the only reason we are alive is for Allah, to serve Him, to worship Him, because we need to worship Him and He doesn’t need us to do that. Whether or not we worship Him, it does not detract or add to His majesty at all. Rather He is The Self-Sufficient, The Majestic, The Rich, Free of all needs. The Lord of all that exists, He is Allah.
Besides, our kind behaviour and gifts to you is not supposed to be limited to a certain day of the year, as Muslims we are required to deal with everyone in a just manner at all times, exhibiting the best character. If we have fallen short in fulfilling our rights towards you as our neighbours, please do forgive us. We make mistakes, after all we are human. Although, we endeavour to follow the best example of excellent moral conduct, as taught to us by Allah’s final prophet and messenger, Muhammad peace be upon him.
I’ll leave you with a verse from the Qur’an to get you thinking.
‘Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): “I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God – i.e. Allah). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” ‘
[Qur’an, chapter 18: v110, english interpretation]
Watha alnnooni ith thahaba mughadiban fathanna an lan naqdira AAalayhi fanada fee alththulumati an la ilaha illa anta subhanaka innee kuntu mina alththalimeena
And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
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