Maintaining closeness to Allah(swt) through Tahajjud

Jun 7, 2022

Over a month after Ramadan has ended, isn’t it time we ask ourselves- how much of it are we still carrying with us? How hard are we trying to keep the Ramadan spirit alive, like the sahabah did throughout the year? For sure, the special ease that comes from the barakah of that month may not be here anymore, but is it not the same ‘us’ and the same Rabb? The same ‘us’ who proved to ourselves that yes, we CAN read Quran every day, AND fast, AND pray Tarawih/Qiyam al Layl! And isn’t our Creator still and always the Ever-Merciful, the Ever-Hearing, regardless of season or month?

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145)

One way we can carry forward a part of Ramadan with us, is to pray Tahajjud, or the night prayer regularly. It is a time when we will again find our Lord just as near and giving. Tahajjud spiritually energizes, relaxes and heals us, often even replacing the need for the lost sleep. It sets the stage for a beautiful and productive day- both in matters of the Dunya and Deen.

Here are some tips to wake up for Tahajjud and enjoy spiritual rejuvenation and a cherished closeness with Allah(swt):

  • Nap in the day

  • Keep yourself in check during the day- a righteous day leads to a righteous night

  • Eat less in the evening

  • Set up your prayer clothes/place/Mushaf/dua books at night before going to sleep

  • Make Dua for Allah to enable you to wake up & experience Tahajjud

  • Sleep early after Isha

  • Cleanse your heart- a heart full of bitterness, grudges or malice is a heavy heart to wake up with

  • Stay patient. Give your body time to develop this new keystone habit. Don’t get discouraged when you miss it

  • Try & try until you succeed!

Laylatul Qadr: Tips to Stay Mindful and Excel in Worship

Apr 22, 2022

✨ Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.”(Sahih al-Bukhari 2017)

🌙Begin with Du’a and Allah’s remembrance: complete your Evening Adhkar after Asr, and ask Allah(SWT) for the ability to worship Him in the best way that pleases Him.

🌙Be aware that Laylatul Qadr starts at Maghrib.

🌙 Watch yourself: Don’t do or say anything that may cancel Allah’s mercy that’s descending. Avoid any arguments, making rude comments, backbiting, showing negative attitude of any kind or doing any disliked deed.

🌙 Eat light & stay hydrated to maximize energy.

🌙 Try to pray Isha and Fajr in congregation, for its reward is written as spending the entire night in prayer.

🌙 It is the Night of making Du’a more than anything else – Engage in making comprehensive Du’as, and especially the Du’a of Laylatul Qadr.

🌙 Diversify good deeds. Give charity, make Du’a, read Qur’an, perform Nawafil salah, do tasbeehaat. (Du’a and charity can even change destiny bi idhni Allah)

🌙 Be patient & show immense generosity to those around you. Don’t we expect unlimited generosity and forgiveness from Allah?!

🌙 Do Ihsaan: Show excellence in worship and in dealing with others.

🌙Maintain Dhikr to maximize blessings, especially those tasbeehaat that we know the tremendous rewards for.

🌙 Make lots of Istighfar– So sins don’t come in the way of Allah’s blessings.

🌙 Send salutations and prayers upon the Prophet(ﷺ) – As it is one of the best Du’as!

🌙 Specify a spot for worship so that it’ll help increase focus.

🌙 Do Ibadah in seclusion even if for a little while, & make the intention for a mini I’tikaf. Allah(SWT) accepts & rewards any effort.

🌙 Don’t waste any moment & remain conscious of Allah(SWT).

🌙 Remember, Laylatul Qadr lasts until Fajr– Stretch your Ibadah until then if possible, whether it be active qiyam, reading Qur’an, making du’a, doing adhkaar & tasbih, or just listening the Qur’an or a beneficial lecture.

🌺May Allah (SWT) grant us His complete maghfirah, acceptance of du’as, blessed destiny, His limitless rahmah and fadhl; and protect us from being deprived from the blessings of Laylatul Qadr or any of His khayr.

لا حَولَ ولا قوّۃَ اِلّا بِاللّہ. 🤲🏻
“There is no power and no strength except with Allah”

رَبِّ اَعِنِّیْ عَلٰی ذِکْرِکَ وَ شُکْرِکَ وَ حُسْنِ عِبَادَتِکَ۔ 🤲🏻
“O my Lord, help me in remembering You, in thanking You, and in beautifully worshiping You.”

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عُفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
“O Allah, You are pardoning. You love to forgive, so forgive me.” 🤲🏻

Aameen.

A Great Deed in Action!

Apr 22, 2022

=> Revise One or more Juz daily

 

What could be a greater deed in the month of Qur’an than enjoying the Qur’an itself?! Being in the last stretch of the race, there’s still a chance to overturn the tables by giving it our best shot in sha Allah!

“Verily, deeds are only judged by their endings.”(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2898, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 112)

We may revise the Qur’an by reading, going through the meanings and brief tafsir, listening to the recitation, and/or revising the hifdh of any ayahs memorized. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Gabriel would come to me to revise the Qur’an once every year. This year he revised with me twice.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3376)

 

Here are some practical tips to boost your Qur’an journey, even if you started late!

 

  • Plan how much Qur’an you will revise daily, and determine the best time for it. Remember, ‘Those who fail to plan, plan to fail!’
  • Try to stick to a schedule & stay consistent. Remember, slow and steady wins the race! 
  • You may divide that time reserved for the Qur’an into smaller, more manageable chunks or slots into your daily schedule. 
  • No doubt, the best time for the Qur’an is Fajr (Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.(17:78) ), or the early morning- which is full of blessing for the Believers.
  • Give your best/most energetic & focused time to the Qur’an, and in sha Allah, Allah will put barakah in the rest of your daily chores and commitments also.
  • Continue your daily reading in Tarawih and other Sunnahs and Nawafils of the day, and get 2 great deeds done together!

And don’t forget, other than the immense reward of following the Sunnah, we also accumulate the countless rewards upon every letter throughout our journey of the Qur’an, especially in a month when the rewards are unimaginably multiplied!

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