One last post before Ramadan leaves us,  Zoopy.com filmed a short video where they spent a day with a young Muslim woman to find out more about this holy month.

As the blessed month of Ramadhan approaches, we need to prepare for it in such a way that we can gain the maximum benefit of this month.  For many, Ramadhan comes and goes.  However, very few people actually benefit from this great month.  Our teachers advise us to live the whole year as if we are in the month of Ramadhan.  This magnanimous achievement can only be attained when the actual month of Ramadhan is spent properly.  In order to acquire a droplet of the reality mentioned above, Insha Allah, I hope to mention ten points that were given as form of advice to me and many others.

1. Discipline: Most people already know to abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from one’s spouse during the daytime of Ramadhan.  However, a level of discipline must be developed to do righteous acts and abstain from those acts which would earn the displeasure of Allah. That was a basic form of discipline that needs to be developed but along with that, one needs to have discipline in following a particular routine or schedule for Ramadhan.  This will be the real life changing factor for an individual.   They wake up for suhoor but also pray Tahajjud at that time.  Recite some Qur’an.  They eat.  Make dua’ while waiting for Salah.   They pray Fajr.  Recite Qur’an and make zikr.  Rest if they need to.  The idea is to make a schedule and act accordingly the whole month without sacrificing their schedule.  This is the desired discipline that is required.One may ask, “Why did he not just put the first point as a ‘making a schedule’?”  Well, the answer is very simple.  Anyone can come up with a schedule, but it takes real discipline to abide by it.
2. Devotional life (‘Ibadah): Ramadhan is the month where Allah allows us to really fulfill the purpose of our being, and the purpose of our creation.  Allah created us all to worship Him, and Him alone.  Here, I will not mention virtues of various acts or worship because those can be found in the many books on the merits of certain deeds.  However, since Ramadhan and Qur’an are closely connected, I will say that much of our devotional life should be focused on the Qur’an.  Reciting at least the entire Qur’an once in this month.  Understanding it from erudite scholarship of our community or from accepted commentaries and Tafaaseer. I am not asking that a person recites the entire Qur’an and completes one entire commentary of it in one month.  Perhaps it may be feasible to recite the entire Qur’an and start off a regimen of a Tafseer and try to finish it on an annual basis.
3. Identifying with the Ummah: It is important that we feel our fast, i.e. feel hunger and thirst.  Apart from that, we can use this to our benefit by making other people’s fast count for us as well.  This means that if we feed or give to drink something to someone who fasts, we can get the reward of their fast as well.  Another aspect of identifying with the Ummah is to be grateful for whatever Allah has given us and realize that a little of that we need to give to others so that they may have a decent Ramadhan and wonderful ‘Eid.  See what the Ummah is going through and see how we can actively participate to help the Ummah in any way possible.
4. Contact with the Qur’an: Ramadhan is the month wherein the Qur’an was revealed.  This is the month of the Qur’an.  It is extremely essential to establish a relationship with the Qur’an.  Without going into much detail, I will just mention something practical with regards to the Qur’an and Ramadhan.  For the average person, i.e. one who is not scholar or is not a Hafiz, they should read at least one juz per day so that they finish at a minimum one entire Qur’an for the month of Ramadhan.  If one can do more, than Alhamdulillah, no one is stopping anyone.  The next thing is to understand the Qur’an.  So take the first volume of Ma’ariful Qur’an (for example) and read one section of the Arabic part (if one can) and then read the translation, then read the commentary.  Do this every day without fail.  Obviously the whole commentary will not be completed in one month, but at least a schedule to read a portion regularly will be developed and hopefully within a year it could be completed.  Also, one should try to memorize those chapters/surahs which are read often like Mulk, Kahf, Ya Seen, Waqi’ah, and Sajdah.  Also memorize Surahs from the last juz at least and more if possible.
5. Mujahadah: Ramadhan is a month of sacrifice and struggle.  It is a month where Allah wants our time, our health, our wealth, and our whole being.  We literally live the whole year for everything and anything.  It is just one month…can we not live one month solely for our Creator?!  So what if we have to sacrifice our sleep, and random other luxuries that we can do without anyway.  As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.”  The amount of sacrifice and struggle we put into this month, Allah will reward us in this world and the next accordingly.  Give yourself to Allah, and see what Allah has in store for you.
6. Dua’: The essence of worship is supplication to Allah.  This whole month, Allah is willing and readily open to accept all that we ask of Him.  It is only to our own loss and detriment that we lack in begging Allah for the things we need.  Prioritize your supplications.  Ask firstly for yourself, then your family, community, then the Ummah at large.  Within that, prioritize and ask for things pertaining to the hereafter, then ask for things pertaining to this world.  Just remember one thing when it comes to dua’,  the point of dua’ is not that we need something or we need protection or refuge from some other thing, the point is that Allah told us to supplicate to Him, and that is why one should make dua’ abundantly.  There are certain things Allah loves to do, and one of them is to answer the supplications of His servants who call unto Him.  One final aspect regarding dua’ is crying or pretending to cry.  Tears are something foreign to Allah and therefore He has immense value for tears.  The whole year we become filthy and impure spiritually by sinning, Ramadhan is the month where we purify our spirits by bathing our spirits in our tears.
7. Good Company: Ramadhan is a month to maximize on good deeds and keep bad deeds at zero.  Being in the company of the righteous will allow one to attain this goal. I will keep this point short.  The minimum benefit one gets by being in good company is that one will not sin which in turn will cause one to become the greatest worshiper based off the hadith of Tirmidhi wherein Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) took Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu)’s hand and said, “O Abu Hurayrah, abstain from all prohibitions and you will become the best worshiper.”  The maximum benefit is that being with the people of Allah, Insha Allah; a person may just Attain Allah.  What can be greater?!
8. Gratitude:  The secret to an increase in anything is to be thankful for it.  To make sure that we see this month the next year, appreciate it this year. Be thankful for all that we have in every aspect, even the basic things we neglect and take for granted.  We have Iman, we have Islam.  Alhamdulillah, we are the best Ummah.  We have been given the best book, i.e. the Qur’an.  The best way to appreciate a bounty is to use it for its purpose.  Allah has blessed with infinite blessing and bounties.  Ramadhan is one of those bounties, so to fully appreciate Ramadhan, we must spend it the way Allah would like us to spend it and attain out goal which is Taqwa.
9. Following the Sunnah: Anything of the beloved is also beloved.  That is a principle of love.  Allah has proclaimed the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) as His beloved.  If we follow the Sunnah and show a resemblance, then we can also gain the focus of Allah.  Particularly follow the Sunnah acts which the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) performed in Ramadhan.  If we have to do something, might as well do it the best way possible.  The best way for anything to be done is the way of the Sunnah.  If by any chance it was some other way, Allah would have had His Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) do it that way then.
10. Istiqamah: Imam Junayd Al-Baghdadi (RA) said, “Steadfastness is greater than a thousand miracles.”  Please do not tire one’s self out in the initial stages of Ramadhan, rather figure out a routine that works and stick to it regularly.  The most beloved of actions to Allah are those that are done consistently even though they may seem minor.  We all need to be thankful for the good that we have done and also for the evil we are able to abstain from.  We also need to be thankful for whatever level of steadfastness that we have.  We want to make Ramadhan last beyond Ramadhan as well.  I’ll end with a quote from one of our mashaaikh, Shaykh In’aam-ul-Hasan Kandehlawi (RA) said, “Whoever lives their life as they do in Ramadhan, then death will come to that person just as the moon of ‘Eid comes for the fasting person.”

To conclude, we pray to Allah that He accepts all of our efforts and overlooks and forgives all of our shortcomings.  Aameen.

Source: http://annoor.wordpress.com/2010/08/11/10-tips-for-ramadhan/

Fasting during the Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Followers should abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset for 29 to 30 days. Many people who fast over Ramadan suffer mild or moderate headaches as a result of factors such as caffeine withdrawal, stress and low blood sugar. The good news, says Dr Elliot Shevel the chairman of the South African Headache Society is that you can manage these headaches without breaking your fast.

“Headache onset often occurs in the afternoon or evening just before the fast is broken. Headache frequency typically increases over the duration of fasting. Those prone to headaches at other times of the year are most likely to get headaches, but some patients that experience headaches during this time have no history of headaches or migraines.”

How to eliminate headache from your fasting regimen during Ramadan:
Dr Shevel highlights caffeine withdrawal as the most common cause of headache while fasting. Patients can often prevent headaches by reducing caffeine consumption in the weeks leading up to Ramadan month, while a cup of strong coffee just before the start of the fast for the day may prevent caffeine withdrawal headache.

Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) can also trigger headaches in many people. If a meal with high sugar content is taken before the day’s fast begins, it can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels followed by a fast drop that may trigger a headache. Eating a meal with low sugar content before the fast may prevent the onset of a headache during the day. Contact The Headache Clinic for a list of foods which have a low glycemic index.

Dehydration is another common trigger, adequate intake of fluid before the onset of the fast can often prevent headaches. The human brain is more than 75% water, and it is very sensitive to the amount of water available to it. When the brain detects that the water supply is too low, it begins to produce histamines. This is essentially a process of water rationing and conservation, in order to safeguard the brain in case the water shortage continues. for a long period of time. The histamines directly cause pain and fatigue, in other words a headache and the low energy that usually accompanies it. “Patients should also, as far as possible, try to avoid exposure to other triggers such as fluid retention, stress, fatigue and lack of sleep during Ramadan, when there is a greater tendency to experience headache,” says Dr Shevel. “Rest and sleep often to help prevent being subjected to headaches and the pain often melts away when the fast is broken for the day.”

Medicinal help
Preventive medication that will last for the full twelve hours of the fast includes preparations such as the tablet Naproxen sodium, which is taken as a single dose of 500mg just before the fast begins. These tablets are sold over-the-counter at your pharmacy as Aleve formulated by Bayers AG.

When to call your doctor
“If headaches are interfering with your fast during Ramadan, contact The Headache Clinic on 0861 678 911 as we have a number of techniques to relieve you of your pain. So that you can continue your fast without breaking any of the principles of Ramadan,” added Dr Shevel. If headaches persist after Ramadan or are severe in nature, patients are advised to seek help from a medical professional. Dr Shevel explains that headaches can be most successfully treated using a multidisciplinary approach, since no one medical specialization covers all the psychological and physical dimensions of severe headaches.

For more information please contact Mary-lee Cantor on +2711 484 0933 or visit www.headclin.com

Ramadaan 2010 is days away and www.MyUmmah.co.za has made it an annual tradition to publish Ramadaan Timetables for the various cities in South Africa

We have included Ramadan 2010 Timetables for the following South African Cities: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban.

Click on the thumbnail below to enlarge each image.

Be sure to visit some of our friends at
www.StrictlyHalaal.com
www.Viewtiful.co.za

I think we as Muslims in South Africa need to stop the petty bickering in our communities and start looking at the bigger picture. Instead of slamming radio stations and groups, let us highlight the oppression of various muslim communites around the world

This story comes via a href=http://muslimmatters.org/2009/09/04/forced-not-to-fast-plight-of-muslim-uyghurs/MuslimMatters/a

Chinese authorities in Xinjiang Province have issued a notice that any Uyghur cadres or workers found not eating lunch during Ramadan could lose their jobs.

It is part of the campaign of local authorities in Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uyghur ethnic group, to force the Uyghur people to give up their religious rituals during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar, which begun this year on Aug. 22. It requires not eating during the daytime.

“Free lunches, tea, and coffee—that authorities are calling ‘Care from the government’ or ‘Living allowance’—are being offered in government departments and companies. But it is actually a ploy used to find out who is fasting,” said Dilxat Raxit, World Uyghur Congress spokesman, speaking to The Epoch Times.

According to Dilxat, Uyghur Communist Party cadres throughout Xinjiang had been forced to sign “letters of responsibility” promising to avoid fasting and other religious activities. They are also responsible for enforcing the policy in their assigned areas, and face punishment if anyone in these areas fasts.

For the first time, Dilxat said, the crackdown has extended to retired Communist Party members. Current cadres are required to visit them to prevent them from participating in the fast. If anyone violates the ban, local leaders will be held responsible and severely punished, he said.

Muslim restaurant owners are forced to sign a document to remain open and continue selling alcohol during Ramadan or have their licenses revoked, he said.

Uyghurs arrested during the July riots in Urumqi are also prohibited from fasting; those who insist on fasting will be force fed food and water while enduring insults for their misbehavior, he said in the interview.

Monks in mosques are forced to preach to others that fasting is a “feudal activity” and harmful to health, said Dilxat. Otherwise, their religious certification will be cancelled.

When asked about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Hu Jintao’s recent visit to Xinjiang, Dilxat said: “Xinjiang’s situation has not yet returned to normal. Rather than asking the local Han people to respect the religion and culture of Uyghur people, Hu encouraged the use of military troops to suppress and further restrict our religious freedom. The communist regime often talks about ‘maintaining stability,’ but what they do is always different from what they say. They are actually the ones who are destroying stability.”

An Epoch Times reporter contacted the CCP’s State Ethnic Affairs Commission to see whether the restrictions claimed by Dilxat were official, or what the official stance on Ramadan was. The media contact wouldn’t speak on the subject, instead giving two numbers in Xinjiang that he said the reporter would be able to call to find out more. Both numbers were continually busy, and when the reporter called the State Ethnic Affairs Commission back, the man hung up.

The directives are communicated on official Web sites in the region, however.

Additional reporting by Matthew Robertson

a href=http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/8/27/n2636972.htmRead original article in Chinese/a

FASTING is complete abstinence from food and drink between dawn and dusk. All those who are ill or frail, pregnant or menstruating women, breastfeeding mothers and travellers are exempted. They are required to make up the number of days missed at a later date or give a fixed sum to charity.

Alkauthar Institute Presents

Month of Mercy  : Special Course for ONLY R50
Date: 19th July 2009
Time : 8:15 am – 7pm
Venue : Wits Medical School , Parktown
For registration or info call : 082 740 8021

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month which Allah has
enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and
the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained
up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months, and
whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.” An Nisai

click to enlarge

Learn all about the rulings, fiqh, secrets, worship and benefit of
fasting and Ramadan!

Some of the things you will learn in this course:
the special place of Ramadan,
the importance of fasting,
the optional and the obligatory fasts,
the moon sighting,
how and when to make up missed fasts,
important women’s issues pertaining to fasting,
common mistakes during Ramadan,
Taraweeh prayers,
Laylatul Qadr,
Zakat Ul Fitr & Eid Ul Fitr and much more.

This course is for:
Every Muslim trying to understand his or her Deen and wishes to get the most out of the Holy month of Ramadan.
Teachers and parents who may not have a solid background in the Islamic sciences and need to explain the issues related to Ramadan.
Every Muslim who wants to understand the fiqh related to this pillar of Islam.
Everyone who wants to be inspired by the Month Of Mercy and make it change their lives.
University students or High school seniors involved in calling to this religion.
New Muslims who want to understand their Deen.

Outcomes of the course?
A binder complete with notes all about worship in Ramadan.
Appreciation of the rulings about the vast majority of the questions about Ramadan that plague us today.
Understanding how to get have a fantastic Ramadan and appreciate the Mercy of our Lord.

We only have limited seats at each seminar. So to ensure you don’t
miss out we encourage you to enroll as soon as possible to confirm
your seat.

Why Enrol?
Knowledge is power. It increases when you give it. It is needed by
Kings and beggars alike. It eases the path to paradise. We are
constantly reminded in the Qur’an and Sunnah of the importance of
gaining Islamic knowledge so as to apply it in our lives. At Alkauthar
Institute we have attempted to make this path as easy as possible for
a Muslim, but in the end it will require your own individual
commitment, dedication and hard work to gain the pleasure of Allah.

Remember:
The benefits you receive for the fee you pay for these courses will far outweigh the benefits you will receive from the payment of any other course such as university fees, professional membership fees, conference fees amongst many others.

Practicality is always emphasized. You will learn so much in such little time and in such a manner that will ensure that you will be able to impart that knowledge straight away. Come and experience the Alkauthar Method and the world’s first Case based Islamic learning.

Give your Islamic education solid direction. One course at a time you will edge closer to a diploma, degree and honours.

Instructors who will provide engaging and enjoyable university level lessons in a professional manner at ideal venues complimenting our technology focused teaching style. Our instructors also have plenty of experience dealing with Muslim affairs in the West.

Our student advisors combined with the support of an online community consisting of your instructors and your fellow students from around Australia and the world.

Alkauthar Institute is aiming to develop a pioneering world class
Islamic learning institute, providing a professional and refreshing
approach to Islamic courses which will touch the hearts and revive the
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Rarely do opportunities like this come our way whilst we are healthy
and able. Take advantage of the chance and ENROL NOW! What will you be
missing out on if you don’t?

–
Enriching Lives Through Education
www.alkauthar.org

By Naeem Nasrullah from Albalagh

Ramadan came and the masjid brimmed with joy
from daybreak to sunset, men, women, and children overflowed its sacred halls
light emanated out from their ardent worship
magnificent chandeliers adorned the uplifted roof
perfectly straight and still rows stretched out far and wide
a mesmerizing recitation of the Quran marvelously glided through
encompassing their bodies and seizing their hearts
and unleashing the blessings of the Most Bountiful
the masjid gloated, beaming with praise and hope

when Ramadan ended, the masjid lamented and wept
its Eid was no Eid
its happiness was gone
its light was replaced by a gloomy darkness

for all those who visited it
had suddenly deserted it
perfectly content with their performance in Ramadan
they saw no further need to come back
they could happily chase after the pleasures they had missed out in Ramadan

and as I gaze now,
the masjid is silent as a mortuary
mourning without wailing
peaceful as waves breaking on a shore
lights reminiscent of the full moon shining down upon a vast desert
shadows abound,
of the door knobs peeking down
of the window grids forming black holes in the carpet

the people are gone
a feeling of emptiness overwhelms
how many vacant spots are there
beseeching, pleading for a worshipper
to come and connect his soul with the Almighty
to earn eternal success
how many mushafs are there
wishing they were being read by a sincere heart

why do not the people reform
why do they stubbornly persist in answering the calls of ignorance
why do they ignore the call of their Lord
why do they neglect the masjid except at Ramadan
alas, the masjid is there waiting, peacefully and silently for them to come

its looming, heavy silence is its tears
for it has to wait one long and dry year until the next Ramadan
when the people will finally come back
so it can be restored to its glory
and to its original purpose – in the service of its Creator.

The recitation of the Qur’ân is completed in this which commences from Sûrah Bayyinah, the 98th Sûrah of the Qur’ân, ending with Sûrah Nâs, the 114th and final Sûrah of the Qur’ân.

Allâh is pleased with the righteous and they are pleased with Him because they are the best of Allâh’s creation. As for the evildoers, they are the worst of Allâh’s creation. On the Day of Qiyâmah, Allâh will be so just that even a good act the size of an atom will be rewarded and a sin just as small will also not pass unnoticed.

Allâh says that man acknowledges that he has an ungrateful nature, but his intense love for wealth does not permit him to mend his ways. Allâh reminds mankind to be mindful of the Day of Qiyâmah because they can never fathom the flaming inferno of Jahannam. Man is reminded that he will have to answer for the wealth that he possesses, which makes him negligent of his duties in this world. Besides the righteous Mu’minîn, the rest of mankind is at a loss.

Allâh warns man that every tale-carrier and miser is destined for Jahannam. In Sûrah Fîl, Allâh illustrates how He used little birds with pebbles to destroy the army of elephants that Abraham brought to demolish the Ka‘bah. In the next Sûrah, Allâh tells the Quraysh that they should worship He only because it was Him who made their city a sanctuary of peace.

In Sûrah Ma’ûn, Allâh condemns those who rebuke orphans and the poor and who are vain and miserly. These are the ones who remain negligent of the Salâh. Allâh consoles Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam by telling him not to let the taunts of a certain Kâfir affect him because it will be the very same wretch who will be without progeny and will be nameless in history. Allâh urges Rasulullâh ft to continue performing Salâh and offering sacrifices because Allâh shall soon award him with the pond of Kawthar as a gift in the Âkhirâh.

In Sûrah Kâfirûn, Allâh clearly distinguishes between the Mu’minîn and the Kuffâr so that the one is not confused for the other. Allâh makes mention of the culmination of Rasulullâh’s Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam duty in Sûrah Nasr and commands Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to engage in excessive glorification and praise of Allâh. Sûrah Lahab curses Abu Lahab and his wife because the couple harmed Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam, immensely. Sûrah Ikhlâs declares, “Say, ‘He is Allâh, the One. Allâh is Independent. He is neither the child of anyone nor has He any children. There is none comparable to Him.

Sûrah Falaq is an invocation to Allâh for His protection and makes reference to the witchcraft that was intended to harm Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam. Finally, Sûrah Nâs invokes Allâh’s protection against Shaytân’s instigation and traps.

More than half of the 30th Juz is be recited in this (i.e. from Sûrah Naba until Sûrah Qadr, the 97th Sûrah of the Qur’ân).

In Sûrah Naba (Sûrah Amma), Allâh says that the punishment of Jahannam has been prepared for those people who deny the truth of Islâm. When the trumpet is sounded for the Day of Qiyâmah, the skies will be divided into many roads through which people will pass in droves towards the Plain of Resurrection. The acts of every person will be disclosed and Allâh will decide the punishment or reward that every person will receive.

Sûrah Nâzi’ât follows Sûrah Naba with the message that people will regard their lives in this world to be a mere morning or evening when they face the torturously long Day of Qiyâmah. The severity of the bay of Qiyâmah will cause people’s heart to tremble. They will recall their acts in this world and will regret whatever they did because Jahannam will be shown to them.

In the subsequent Sûrahs, Allâh tells Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam that people with wealth and authority are often beguiled by what they have and therefore do not accept good counsel. On the other hand, poor people tend to accept more readily. Therefore, devote more attention to those who have greater fear for Allâh so that they may attain spiritual purity.

When Qiyâmah will take place, no one can be of any assistance to another, even though they may be brothers, parents, children or spouses. Every person will be too concerned about his own predicament to be worried about another. The faces of the Mu’minîn and the pious will be resplendent on that day, while the faces of the Kuffâr and sinners will be gloomy.

Allâh points out to people that they will have to tread the straight path to be saved from the anguish and suffering of the Day of Qiyâmah. On the Day of Qiyâmah, the sky will be rent asunder, bodies will rise from their graves, the stars will plummet down and the oceans will be ablaze. Every person will be confronted by his acts on the Plain of Resurrection when none will want to know another.

In Sûrah Mutaffifîn, Allâh condemns those who cheat when weighing and measuring, and warns them of a terrible punishment. Allâh cautions mankind to beware of the day when they will all rise from their graves and stand before Allâh to account for every act. On that day, it will be the Mu’minîn who will laugh at the Kuffâr who scoffed at them in this world.

The sky will be cleaved open when the trumpet is sounded and corpses will be flung from their graves. Whereas the pious shall be quickly relieved of the formalities of the Day of Qiyâmah, the sinful ones will be flung into the fire of Jahannam. These were the people who thought that they will never be returned to Allâh.

Allâh says further that those who harass believing men and women without repenting afterwards shall suffer a terrible torment in the Âkhirâh. Allâh also mentions that the Qur’ân is a lofty book that is preserved in the Lawhul Mahfûdh. The Qur’ân distinguishes between right and wrong and those who still adamantly adhere to the wrong shall be granted only a little respite.

Allâh commands Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to glorify His praises and assures him that he will never forget the Qur’ân. Allâh further instructs Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to continue propagating the Dîn for Allâh shall open up avenues of ease for him. Allâh urges people to ponder over Allâh’s creation so that they may recognise Him. Allâh says, “Have they not looked how the camel is created? And how the sky has been elevated? And how the mountains have been rooted? And how the earth has been levelled?” (Sûrah Ghâshiya, verses 17 to 20)

All these signs are for people to take heed before they are taken to task on the Day of Qiyâmah. Allâh admonishes man for his excessive preoccupation with material wealth because it leads him to abuse inheritance and to refuse help to the poor and orphans. However, Allâh has granted man the capacity to do good and to refrain from evil. Therefore, whoever purifies his soul will be successful, while those who are negligent of this will suffer permanent loss.

Allâh advises people to spend their wealth only for His pleasure and with no other motives. None should be proud about being able to do good because only Allâh grants people the ability to lend a helping hand to the needy. Allâh assures Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam that Allâh will soon confer on him a bounty that will please him and that he should never feel that Allâh has forsaken him because Allâh has always been there for him. Allâh has illuminated his heart, alleviated his worries and elevated his name. Allâh consoles Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam (as well as all Muslims at large) that ease always follows hardship. Therefore, a person’s attention should always focus on Allâh.