In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
We have entered the month of Dhu’l-Qa’dah. This is first of the four sacred months (Al-Ashhur Al-Hurum). The other three are Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. These four months are mentioned in the Qur'an. Allah Almighty says,
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًۭا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ[Qur'an, At-Tawbah 9:36]
Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them...
In these sacred months the rewards and punishments for deeds are magnified. Specifically, Allah warns us against doing injustice to ourselves during these months.
The name Dhu’l Qa’dah can be translated as the month of “settlement” or “sitting,” as it is the month when people stop fighting each other in wars. Let this inspire us to settle arguments and let go of ill feelings.
The months of the Islamic calendar months are based on the movement of the moon (Qamari months). However, the calendar starts with the emigration or hijrah of the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from Makkah to Madinah as this hijrah was the turning point in the history of Islam, hence the name hijri calendar. This calendar was adopted two and a half years after Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) became caliph.
Dhu’l-Qa’dah is the first of three consecutive sacred months, followed by Dhu’l-Hijjah and then Muharram. This means the next three months are a time in which there are magnified rewards for your good deeds and magnified consequences for your bad deeds and habits.
So let us look at ourselves and our worship. Did our iman (faith) go down after Ramadhan? Iman wears out in the heart just like the clothes wear out. If you don't work on building your iman, even if it is good before, it is worn out now. You can renew your iman each day by actively seeking to do good. There are so many ways in the teachings of our beloved Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, that can help us do this.
Action items
1. Thank Allah for all His blessings and seek Allah's forgiveness more frequently. This means more than just a verbal expression of sorrow for past deeds. It also requires a firm resolution to avoid making the same mistakes in the future by giving up bad habits and behavior while sincerely turning to Allah.
2. Make lots of du'a (supplication). Get out your Ramadhan du'a list and start using it again. Take at least ten minutes each day to sit down, focus and make du'a because you will get rewarded for each du'a inshaa Allah. Don't forget to ask Allah for what He wants from you.
3. Make lots of istighfar (seeking Allah's forgiveness), salawat (sending blessings upon the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Remind yourself to use your time wisely. Increase in randomly saying during the day while doing work etc: SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi, SubhanAllahil adheem, laa ilaaha illAllah, Allaahu akbar, etc.
4. Focus on your relationship with your parents. Strive not to raise your voice to them. Make them smile. Listen to them and share thoughts with them to make them happy.
5. Increase ties of kinship and kithship (visit them, call/write to them regularly, say kind words, give/send gifts, etc.)
6. Increase prayers at the masjid and do more voluntary prayers at home (tahajjud, dhuha, sunnah prayers before and after the obligatory prayers, etc). Give yourself a no excuse policy with the prayers especially the obligatory prayer since nothing is more important these obligatory prayers. When it’s time for prayer, you will stop what you are doing to pray.
7. Build close relationship with the Qur'an. Read Qur'an everyday and contemplate on the meanings. You will get extra reward for each letter you recite inshaa Allah. Play the Qur'an in your house and recite it with your family.
Feel Ramadhan again. Try to complete reciting the entire Qur'an each month and invite your family and friends for the Qur'an khatam and du'a.
Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Allah Almighty has angels who travel the highways and by-ways seeking out gatherings of remembrance (dhikr) in the earth. When they find a gathering of remembrance, they enfold them with their wings stretching up to the heaven. Allah asks them, ‘From where have you come?’ They reply, ‘We have come from Your slaves who are glorifying You, praising You, proclaiming Your oneness, asking of You and seeking refuge with You.’ He says, and He knows better than them, ‘What are they asking Me for?’ They reply, ‘They are asking You for the Garden.’ He says, ‘Have they seen it?’ They reply, ‘No, our Lord.’ He says, ‘How would it be if they were to see it?’ Then He asks, and He knows better than them, ‘What are they seeking refuge from?’ ‘From the Fire,’ they reply. He asks, ‘Have they seen it?’ ‘No,’ they reply. Then He says, ‘How would it be if they were to see it?’ Then He says, ‘I testify to you that I have forgiven them, I have given them what they ask Me for, and I give them the refuge which they ask of Me.’ They say, ‘Our Lord, among them is a wrongdoer who is sitting with them, but is not one of them.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven him as well. The one sitting with these people will not be wretched.’” [Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim]
Mu’awiya reported that the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam went out to a circle of his Companions and asked, “What is it that has caused you to sit together?” They answered, “We have sat down to remember Allah and praise Him.” He said, “Jibril came to me and reported to me that the angels are boasting about you.” [Muslim, al-Tirmidhi]
8. Give extra sadaqah. Don't miss that feeling of Ramadhan? Donate money and also do something for someone in your community. Vary your ways of sadaqah.
9. Try not to miss all the sunnah fasts -- Mondays, Thursdays, the 3 white days, etc
10. Read Surah Kahf every Friday. Try to read it with your family or a group of friends. There is great merit in doing so.
“Allah says: ‘I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he makes remembrance (dhikr) of Me. If he makes remembrance of Me to himself, I make remembrance of him to Myself. If he makes remembrance of Me in a gathering, I make remembrance of him in a gathering better than it.’”
Abu Hurayra reported from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “There are no people who remember Allah without the angels surrounding them, mercy covering them, tranquility descending on them, and Allah mentioning them to those who are with Him.” [Muslim, al-Tirmidhi]
Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Allah Almighty has angels who travel about seeking out gatherings of remembrance (dhikr). When they come to them, they encircle them.” [al-Bazzar]
Anas also reported that the Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “When you come upon the meadows of the Garden, graze in them.” He was asked, “What are the meadows of the Garden?” “Circles of remembrance (dhikr)” he replied. [al-Tirmidhi]
Avoid all sins at all costs. Remember there is no connection with Allah except our obedience to Him (...The Muslims are supported by their enemy's disobedience towards Allah. Were it not for that, we would not have any strength, as our numbers are not like theirs. If we were equally matched in sin, they would have an advantage over us in strength, and if we did not have an advantage over them by our virtue, we would not be able to defeat them by our strength...Omar's advice).
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا ﴿١١٠[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:110]
Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." (110)
May Allah grant us tawfiq to increase our good deeds and help us avoid bad deeds and help us strive against our bad habits. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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