EID MUBARAK!

I know it's a little late to post about Eid...but hey....what the heck!

I want to leave you a reminder.

Post Ramadan:

You need to start your post Ramadan planning from NOW.

The scholars agree that the signs of an accepted Ramadan is that your steadfast in action after Ramadan ends. As the prophet Mohammad (SAW) said: "the most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent even if they're small" (Bukhari and Muslim).

So choose a worship that you were blessed with doing in Ramadan, for example attending Fajr at the mosque, reading the Quran daily, or praying at least two Rakah during the night, and commit to doing it as a minimum every single day of the year.

As Allah says “Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is Allah (Alone)," and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): "Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised! (30) "We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask. (31) "An entertainment from (Allah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (41;32)

Ramadhan Day 22

We are now entering the last 10 days of Ramadan and we should be all focused on seeking Laylatul Qadr.

Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Quran as, "better than a thousand months" (97:3). Any action done on this night such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months.

Although we’ve increased our worship to Allah so far this month, now we’re entering the final stretch and it’s imperative that our worship level is at the highest it’s ever been. As `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to strive more in worship during Ramadan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadan than he strove in earlier part of the month. .

So if you haven’t already planned your last ten days and have the sincerity and determination to free yourself from the hellfire, here are a few reminders to include in your schedule:

- Concentrate more on prayers and worship on the last ten nights of Ramadan than the first twenty nights.
- Persuade your family members to keep themselves awake for prayer and worship in the last ten nights of Ramadan.
- I`tikaf: It was a practice of the Prophet (PBUH) to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for seclusion to increase in worship.

- Make long, sincere and deep Duas, especially this one: - Aisha, (May Allah be pleased with her), said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' "(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).
The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee"

- Get your sins wiped out: Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. [Bukhari and Muslim).

- Be Generous: Al-Nawawi says: "Generosity and open-handedness are strongly encouraged in Ramadan, especially during the last ten nights. By doing so, we emulate the example of Allah's Messenger (PBUH) as well as that of our Pious Predecessors..."

Let's encourage each other to not waste any time and work hard these last ten days. Insha'Allah we see the fruits of our labour and are joyous on the Day of Judgement, happily forever abiding in Paradise.