What Intentions Should We Make For After Ramadan?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam

What intentions should we make for after Ramadan?

by Habib Umar bin Hafiz

We intend to be among those whose entire year is Ramadan

We intend that our connection with Allah is expressed in our actions throughout the day and the night

We intend to serve the Ummah in the best way by focusing on the Three Objectives (knowledge, devotion and service)

We intend to seek the pleasure of Allah and to make His Messenger ﷺ happy in all that we do

We intend to attain an increase in presence of heart with Allah at all times but especially during the prayer and recitation of the Quran and the adhkar

We intend to establish gatherings with our brothers and sisters who we love for Allah’s sake

We intend to fast the Six Days of Shawwal and other blessed days such as Tāsūā’ and Ashura (9th and 10th Muharram) and the Day of Arafah and at least three days in every month.

May Allah grant us tawfiq.

May Allah accept our deeds and forgive all our shortcomings and save us from the hellfire. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all. 

Wassalaam

Bidding Farewell To Ramadhan 2021 (1442H)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

The month of Quran is almost over. It feels like yesterday we were celebrating the first day of Ramadhan and now it is almost over. Whether you love Ramadhan so much and want it to stay; whether you fell short in Ramadhan and want it to stay so you can do more, Ramadhan got to go. You cannot stop Ramadhan from leaving. It was only here for a limited number of days -- 29 or 30. And you have to wait till next year to see Ramadhan again, that if Allah had decreed that you live long enough.

People who have lost out in Ramadhan were those who had busied themselves with things that did not concern them -- those things that they cannot take with them to their graves, i.e. things that cannot help them succeed in the Hereafter. Our concern in this life should be Allah alone, our standing with Him, and our next life to come. And this is the concern that we trained ourselves in Ramadhan and should have from now and until we breathe our last.

The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to make preparations for Ramadhan six months in advance, in which they would keep asking Allah to let them reach Ramadhan and in good health. Then for the next six months, they would keep asking Allah to accept their Ramadhan worship. This is the way of the best generation of the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace). They took the matter of worshiping Allah very seriously. It is their way of life.

But it is not over until it is over. Reap the benefits of Ramadhan while it lasts during this final moments with many other good deeds--be good to your parents, call them, thank them, hug them, say you love them. Give extra charity and pay your sadaqatul fitr (this is obligatory on every Muslim) and zakat before your Eid prayer.

It's always the case of too many things to do in such little time. But inshaa Allah from the barakah (blessing) of time and your good intentions, you will be able to accomplish what you intend to do, including what's on your "Ramadhan To Do List" that you were not quite able to do, such as complete reading of the Quran, memorize some surahs, read the meanings of the Quran, learn some Arabic, read some tafsir, seerah, remove certain blameworthy traits, pick up certain praiseworthy trait, establish ties of kinship, etc.

 

Read more Qur'an. Remember each letter you recite is one reward, and rewards are multiplied by ten of their kind. You should try to complete reciting the Qur'an this one last time in Ramadhan, perhaps you can gather your family members and friends to do a group khatam instead of cooking, final shopping for Eid or travelling.

May Allah accept our worship and good deeds of Ramadhan, forgive and pardon us, save us from Hellfire, relieve the tribulations of the Ummah, and enable us to reach the next Ramadhan. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Ramadhan 25 1442H -- Take Advantage Of The Last 10 Days Of Ramadhan

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

Take advantage of the last 10 days of Ramadhan 2021. Start a good deed  These are the most beloved nights to Allah.

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُۥ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ ‎﴿٣٩﴾‏

Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers." (Quran, Saba 34:39)

Let's make this du'a as part of our daily worship for the last 10 nights.

تالهم انك عفو كريم تحب العفو فاعف عنا

Allahumma innaka 'Afuwwun Karimun, tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anna

O Allah, indeed You ate Pardoning, Gracious. You love to pardon, so pardon us.

May Allah enable us to witness laylatul qadr. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

 Wassalaam

Ramadhan Day 22 - Rise Through The Ranks By The Quran

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

The Quran is the most beautiful speech because it is the Speech of Allah. The more you recite the Quran the deeper it will go into your heart. The more the Quran is entrenched in your heart, the more your love for the Quran and Iman (Faith) will grow. You rise through the ranks by the Quran. 

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ‎﴿٢٤﴾‏

Have you not considered how Allah presents an 

example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky? (Quran, Ibrahim 14:24)

The Quran gives you fruits throughout the season. anytime you need something, turn to the Quran.

تُؤْتِىٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينِۭ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا ۗ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ‎﴿٢٥﴾‏

It produces its fruit all the time, by permission of its Lord. And Allah presents examples for the people that perhaps they will be reminded. (Quran, Ibrahim 14:25)

May Allah make us of His elect people of the Quran. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Ramadhan Day 21 -- Prayer Prohibits Immorality And Wrongdoing

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

Why the masjids are full but nothing change in the people -- people still doing wrong -- lying, cheating, oppressing, breaking promises, not bashful, not dressing properly as Quran tells us?

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says that solat (prayer) prevents immorality and wrongdoing. 

 ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ ‎﴿٤٥﴾‏

Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do. (Quran, al Ankabut 26:45)

If solat is done  properly, with ikhlas (sincerity), humility, reverence, fear and conscious of Allah, then the benefits of this ayah will be realized. Otherwise our solat is mere form.

Quran recitation is the best remembrance (dhikr) and the best in solat. So, the more we understand and memorize Quran,  the more we are able to reap the benefits of reciting the Quran during solat. Let's begin study the Surahs we have been reciting during solat and continue learning and memorizing the remainder of the Quran, a few verses on daily basis. 

If you do this consistently everyday starting today, in shaa Allah by next Ramadhan, you will have a lot and you will experience a totally different Ramadhan next year. 

May Allah give us tawfiq. aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. 

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam