RAMADAN: What to do in it and after it all year round?

All of the activities included here can be observed all throughout the year except Taraweeh, Itikaaf, and Lailat Ul Qadr.

Salath: The five daily Salath (prayer) are obligatory for everyone; there is no exemption for anyone. If one cannot perform Salath standing, they are allowed to do it while sitting, if one cannot perform Salath even sitting, they are allowed to do it while lying down, if this too is not possible they are allowed to do it in their mind; no one is exempted from Salath not even on their death-bed. Not performing all five salath every day at their prescribed time is a great sin. One gets credit for Salath with the portion of it that one concentrated on; one must concentrate on the meaning of the words one is reciting, one must throw away other thoughts from their mind, one must restrict their physical movements to only those that pertain to the Salath. Ask for FREE Book on Salath from islamonline@email.com Short Surahs: The short Surahs are (portions of text of Quran in Arabic) that we memorized as we were growing up. If we usually recite in our daily prayers without understanding what these words mean then we might also realize what the reward of such Salaath is going to be from the Creator. If you are 10 yrs or older you might have or must memorize the meaning of these surahs and ponder over their meaning while reciting them in your Salath. Tilawat Quraan: Read Quraan a few verses at a time using a translation in a language that you understand, or a Rukoo and its translation at a time before moving on to the next Rukoo. Is not the Quraan revealed so we recite it in Arabic, understand its meaning and implement it into our lives. If in doubt, find out what Tilawat means from those who know. So, recite 1 and quarter part of the Quraan each day with its translation and then reflect on these passages during Taraveeh in Ramadan. Whether it is Ramadan or any other month of the year, one must try to complete the recitation of Quraan along with its meaning, and once it is completed, start from the beginning all over again. One must attach themselves to the Quraan, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year; the closer you are to the Quraan, the closer you might be to your Creator, In Sha Allaah. Wudhu: There is no Salath without Wudhu. One must perform Wudhu properly for each prayer. One should find out what termiates Wudhu and then perform fresh Wudhu as soon as possible. After the wudhu recite the prescribed Dua; memorize it and learn its meaning if not already done so. Ghusl: Purity is half Islam. Trim the nails rid of armpit and pubic hair in at least once every 40 days. One should find out which of their conditions require a Ghusl (ceremonial bath); if you are to attain puberty yet, then skip to next item Suhoor. Without proper Ghusl, there is no Wudhu, and without proper Wudhu there is proper prayer or worship of God. One must perform Ghusl as soon as and each time it becomes obligatory so that one returns to the state of purity again. Ask for FREE Book on Purification from islamonline@email.com Suhoor: The Suhoor (meal before Fajr) is the tradition of Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. He said there is prosperity in it. Tahajjud: Get up a little before Suhoor time and perform 2 rakaat (set of Salath) at a time up to maximum of 8 rakaat, and do Dua (Supplications). Ask for FREE Book on Dua (Supplications) from islamonline@email.com. Adhan: The call for prayer is the Adhan. Know the meaning of Adhan, if you do not already know. When the Adhan is called repeat each line quietly after the Muaddhin (the caller). When he says Hayya Alas Salath or Hayya Alal Falaah say La Howla Wa La Quwwatha Illa Billaah. If you are over 10 yrs or older you might already know the meaning of the Adhan words, and Dua (supplication) after Adhan. If you dont, do it now.

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Zikr - Remembrance of Creator: One must do Zikr (remembering the Creator) as much as possible in all our waking hours. While waiting for vehicle to be warmed up, or a bus or train or an elevator to arrive; practically each and every moment of time while we are awake; and it is easy. Find out about other valuable Zikrs and bring them into practice in your daily life. Begin with SubHaanAllaah, AlHamdulillaah, AllahuaKbar etc. Taraweeh: Optional Salath after Isha Salath is called Taraweeh. The Imam (leader in Salath) recites the Quraan from his memory one and a quarter part from the thirty parts of the Quraan each night. Listen attentively to the recitation, concentrate on the meaning of the portion of Quraan that is being recited. This is a great opportunity to complete the Quraan while you are inside the Salaath, unless you are a Haafiz (one who memorized the entire Quraan), do not miss it. Lailat Ul Qadr: Lailat Ul Qadr may be in the last odd nights or last ten nights of Ramadan or any night of the year. However, seeking the Lailat UL Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan is recommended in Hadeeth. Itikaaf: Going into seclusion and in a Masjid (for males) and a corner of your house (for females) and engaging oneself in voluntary Salath, study of Quraan, Hadeeth, Biographies of Prophets and their companions, teaching Quraan and other subjects of Islam is known as Itikaaf. This was the practice of the pious ones; though some mistakenly assume just going and sleeping in the masjid and not taking part in neither of the above activities nor in the Qiyaam Ul Lail is Itikaaf; if in doubt ask those who know. Qiyaam Ul Lail: Performing Tahajjud prapers in the night, reciting portions of the Quraan or the entire Quraan. In most masjids there are arrangements of Qiyaam Ul Lail during the month or Ramadan or at least in the last ten nights. This is a unique opportunity to complete the Quraan while you are inside the Tahajjud Salaath. If you miss it, you would not know what you missed; do not miss it. Sawm: They call it Fasting where they avoid some kind of food; solid or liquid, for a portion of the day or a few hours etc. The word Fasting does not qualify to be the same as Sawm; as Sawm is restraining from food, drink, sex, lies, stealing, backbiting, listening to music, watching tv, playing video games, texting silly, unwanted, indecent messages, the list goes on. One must refrain from all the above and the like, from the time of Fajr Adhan till the time of Maghrib Adhan (please check your local timings for Salath and Sawm). When Sawming one must try and do as many voluntary Salath as possible, as much recitation and understanding of Quraan, as much reading of Hadeeth (FREE books of Hadeeth available at islamonline@email.com) and Biography (Traditions and Life Story of the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (FREE books of Seerah available at islamonline@email.com)) and also life stories of the Sahaba (Companions - both male and female of the Prophet Muhammad, (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (FREE books on Lives of Sahabah available at islamonline@email.com)). Whether it is Ramandan or any other month of the year, and whether you are Sawming or not sawming, it is your duty to try and do as many voluntary Salath as possible, as much recitation and understanding of Quraan, as much reading of Hadeeth and Biography (Traditions and Life Story of the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and also life stories of the Sahaba (Companions - both male and female of the Prophet Muhammad, (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). If you are 10 yrs or older and have at least once, completed the Quraan with meaning, studied a few Hadeeth from Bukhari, Muslim etc., and a couple of Seerah (Biographies) of Prophet Muhammad, (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then presumably you already passed Grade 10; others among us who have not yet, might want to go back to Junior School. It is never too late, and one must learn from their cradle to their grave; even if our parents did not teach us these essentials, we shall be accountable on the Day of Judgment, to your Creator.
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