Understanding Ramadan #04 – Strategies for a Successful Fast
Date:
Channel: Ali Albarghouthi
File Size: 89.05MB
AI Generated Summary ©
The importance of fasting and staying true to Islam is emphasized in various segments of the conversation, including personal objectives and common interests. It is also important to push oneself and learn new habits to achieve success, protecting from the shade plan, and staying connected to oneself and others. dressing in public settings during the pandemic could lead to harm and confusion, and the goal is to avoid wasting time and following rules. The Roman law is also mentioned as a topic of discussion, with the goal being to avoid wasting time and following rules.AI Generated Transcript ©
Life
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Allah.
We started Sharla in a few cents. Charlotte at 15 cerma
insha Allah.
Yes.
Spin Daya recommend Rahim. hamdulillah help with an amine. So that was saddam anasuya he Salalah while he while early he assigned me he was silom hamdulillah Mohammed Al Hamdulillah praise Allah subhanho wa Taala and we sinned Sundance and I'm upon His Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa and he was sitting them and we asked Allah but I mean, to bless us when it comes to Rama lightworker to relatively
we asked a lot of blood I mean a camera he mean to bless the remaining days that we have before Ramadan to allow us to get ready for it, to receive it with enthusiasm with the right intention with the right attitude. And to make it a blessed Ramadan It is indeed blessed on its own. Ramadan is blessed on its own. But we ask Allah zodac to make it a blessing for us. So that we receive these blessings from Allah azza wa jal in it and we enjoy the month of Ramadan as a month of Rama month of forgiveness, a month of peace and tranquility. Because we coming closer to Allah as the origin and when trying to achieve in at the top of Allah zone.
So, in the previous three sessions Hamdulillah, we talked about some of the focus of fasting and the matters of fasting, and the virtue of the month of Ramadan, and what it brings to us and what we want to get from it. So today inshallah, we will kind of bring all of this together, and we'll be talking about strategies or ideas, suggestions that inshallah will help us, I hope that they could help and you probably have your own experience with Ramadan, your own hints at probably what works for you, and maybe what doesn't, and if you have anything inshallah, that you would like to share with us, please write it in the comments if it's helpful, I will share it with everybody. And this
way you will be helping handler everybody else who's listening and helping yourself in the sense of doing something pleasing to Allah has legit, it's a form of advice, or reminder. So if something works for you, let us know that it worked for you, or if something did not work for you, or equals sidama Mottola. If something did not work for you, then let us know why it did not work for you and how you've overcome some of the challenges of Ramadan because Ramadan could be challenging. Ramadan could be challenging, and especially we'll address this in sha Allah briefly in with COVID, it could be extra challenging. So I want to begin with in sha Allah, as I began, when we're talking about the
matters of fasting,
the add up in it on the fifth in it, the first thing that I want to recommend insha Allah is to think about your objectives in mind from this fast, because what do I want to get from it? Because when you have objectives, when you have goals, you're more likely in sha Allah to work to achieve and realize those goals, or re enter Ramadan without a plan without objectives when we wander aimlessly from one day to the other or one week to the other, languishing,
complaining tired, and that is because of lack of focus. So what is my objective from fasting? So that's the thing too, first thing to determine. ask ourselves that question. Now we have common objectives available to all Muslims and all Muslims know about these objectives of the fast because they are in the Quran and the Sunnah. But we also could have personal objectives, specific objectives that pertain to you and me, what are the common objectives of the fast supplies one of them that I want to achieve greater levels of depth of Allah zildjian where I am conscious of him aware of him, I'm doing what he likes, and I'm avoiding what he hates. Subhana what to add, that I'm
living a life of taqwa, not judged by my desire, but by what Allah loves. And that is a one of the greatest lessons of Ramadan and of life in general and of lessons that will take you to Jenna.
protects you from Hellfire is this lesson, the lesson of I want something and a lot one something else. The thing that takes people to Hellfire is that they put their wants ahead of Allah zildjian. And when he wants the thing that takes people to Jenna simply that they put what Allah wants ahead what they want ahead of what they want. That's what it is. So if you think about it, number one is teaching you tuck want to take you to gender. So I let them take the horns so that you will achieve tough work, as Allah clearly states in the Quran that this is an objective of this fast that objectives takes you to gender. So taqwa entering Jenna, escaping from Hellfire, and these are
common objectives, and we should be aware of them, and try to achieve that in the month of Ramadan, getting our answer,
escaping from the clutches of shavon, and sins and the addiction of sin. What else do we have cleansing our heart loving allies, and more these are common objectives because every single Muslim wants these things, and they are common to all of us, we have maybe also more personal objectives. That is I may be struggling with a particular sin that I want to overcome a particular weakness that I want to overcome, I may be I may be going through some struggles in my life, and I want to connect with Allah azzawajal, to make dua to remove this pain and these struggles and that that affliction, or maybe I want to connect with Allah xojo on a deeper level, because I have felt for a long time
that I'm distant from him, I want to be closer and I want to be better, but have not given myself the opportunity or maybe life Allah who either didn't give me that opportunity to be closer to Allah. So maybe I'm alone will be this opportunity will I will be able to reconnect with Allah because everything there incentivizes worship, and You know, obedience and listening to Allah, you know, people in Shalom, I hope that's the case around you. And if not, you know, may Allah azza wa jal make it so but you know, it's going to be difficult, but I hope that the geese around us, you do have people around you who are reading the Quran and praying and reminding you, even if they don't
say anything, but the only through their behavior, reminding you that there is something special coming, and that is Ramadan. And we need to change our behavior so that we enjoy this month and receive maximum benefit from it. So that is a great reminder, if you have somebody around you is doing this, because it motivates you, right. So a personal objective could be I've been distant from Allah, and I want to get closer to him subhana wa Taala or I want to adopt a braid or a baddha I want greater devotion because I'm not feeling it. So I want to read the Quran more and I want to adopt this even after all, but I want to pray at night I want to adopt this, this even after
Ramadan, so kind of a jump higher level of Riba and a connection to Eliza to that could be
a personal objective or controlling my shower, my desires. That could be something there I've been troubled
by my desires. I'm always sinning and I want to be able to control it or I'm quick to anger. And I need to control my anger and Ramadan could give me this rake that allows me to be in control. Now my anger but my self, or you know my taqwa can control my anger could be that I am bad at the time management that I'm hold on can teach that to me, because it's very specific. This is when you start this is when you end. This is when you pray.
So that could maybe Teach me time management. So there are a lot of things right or addiction to sin, we talked about addiction to sin.
I'm going to repeat this another time to Ramadan is a great opportunity to adopt new habits and let go of other habits. Ramadan is really a good opportunity to do this. Because you find yourself letting go of a lot of things that we've gotten used to when we sleep when we wake up when we eat what we eat, right, all of our habits change. And so if we're able to break away from these, this seemingly basic apps in our lives and alter that, that also leads us to believe in sha Allah with the help of Allah that other things can change as well. That we're not simply helpless. We're not simply defenseless against the shape plan or simply victims, Joe our habits and circumstances no
insha Allah, with the help of Allah, you can rise above your circumstances and say, This is not the way that it's supposed to be. This is not how I'm supposed to be. So I'm going to change. So although it allows it and as it progresses, day after day, it allows you to cement this habit. So let's take any example of anything that is wrong or simply you know, not not beneficial. You leave in the
First day, the second day, the third day, the first week, the second week, after 29 to 30 days you've developed insha Allah that ability I think we've lost
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we can insha Allah as we said in Ramadan, look at both the common objectives right? common objectives are the forgiveness of Allah Jinnah escaping Hellfire, all of that, but also look at your specific situation, what is it that you want from Ramadan and try and shut a lot to make this a specific mission of yours in mind? Like something I want from Allah zildjian in Ramadan, so you ask Allah for it every single day, every single day, I want you know, a duck or I want protection from the shade plan I want protection from
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share that.
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Okay, so we're back live again.
Hopefully, with works without interruption this time.
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Sorry about that. So we're back in Sharla. So I hope everybody who was on Facebook will be able to connect with us again and show okay. So
look at your common or specific goals in Ramadan. As we said, you may have a specific thing that you want from a la Zoo or just think about it. What is that thing and ask Allah for it every single day. And me the sapan Allah, you might be amazed. If you are persistent, and you for asking ALLAH, you have doubts, you have struggles, you have an illness, you want to achieve something great in your life, you want some handler if it's pleasing to Allah, and if it's not harmful, keep asking Allah for it, you never know perhaps by the end of Ramadan, or by the end of the next year, inshallah, before the next one comes, you may find out that your dies is answered. And that is because why?
Because that was an objective of yours in mind, in Ramadan, so really ask, really ask your children, you want to want to protect them. You want allies to give them you know, agenda to protect them from Hellfire to do something, make this drop. So that is an objective insha Allah when we're fasting, so think about it.
What do you want from Ramadan, think and even if you want if it helps write it down, and make this one of the goals that you want to achieve in sha Allah and remotelock now another thing in sha Allah to keep in mind is that as we said, Milan could be a struggle for some of us could be a struggle in the beginning could be a struggle in the middle, it could be a struggle because of COVID could be a struggle because we're just simply away from family or it's hard for us to fast whatever it is, understand in sha Allah that there are ways to cope with these difficulties. First of all, the more difficult a thing is a bad that is the more rewarding that thing is in the original key Allah Cadena
sodic and the prophets Allah audio send them set to each other the allow you will be rewarded in proportion to how difficult the difficulty that you see, we do not create difficulty that we're not supposed in ourselves seek difficulty or create it. But if we encounter difficulty, let's say in hajj, or in Ramadan, or in fasting or any particular about that because there's some difficulty in it. And sometimes it's more difficult for us than other times. And for some people, it's more difficult for them than other people, the more difficult it is the more that a lot rewards you for it. So I want us in sha Allah to keep that in mind.
And the more that you remember this and again if you need to write that down in order to remind yourself of it every single day of Ramadan today is hard. I'm having a headache today is hard. My
stomach hurts I don't have energy. I'm not in the mood. So if it's difficult but you're pushing and you're striving, understand that a lot of the rewards you more in that day than on a day when you're not struggling
so push through it and ask Allah for assistance. That's another thing to keep in mind. If fasting is difficult, it does you don't have to experience this on your own. Where is Allah zoji especially in a month like Ramadan say yeah, Allah is difficult for me, helped me with it. carry some of that burden here Allah
carry some of that burden he Allah helped me with it. assist me with this fast assist me with this a bada and as soon as you ask Allah so did and especially when you say La hawla wala quwata in the villa which is a treasure from the treasures that are with Allah azzawajal underneath the throne, it was delivered, it was delivered or sent down from there. Let hola La quwata illa Billah it is seeking a lot of assistance when you say that.
So you will find that Allah as the devil will bring ease to you.
La zildjian will bring ease to you and you're a better woman yet tell
me who you saw as a law student says inshallah Allah will my yet the pillar has the one who has taqwa of Allah, Allah will give them ease in his affairs,
which is Subhana Allah, that's another dimension of fasting. That fasting that looks like hardship. But it's supposed to achieve taqwa that the core brings is Subhan Allah brings ease in this life and brings ease in the hereafter.
So in fact, when you fast and you persist in fasting, Allah will give you will give you ease in Ramadan, Bismillah and ease beyond Ramadan and ease when you meet him. subhana wa Taala. So remember, if there is difficulty in fasting, remember that Allah as a reward you more because of it. So embrace it, don't run away from it, don't resent it, embrace it, and know that it will pass it will go away by the beginning of Ramadan could be difficult, but when we get used to it, and hamdulillah fasting Bismillah as Odin, for most people will be a breeze, it will be easy, by the end of Ramadan will be unilock normal life, you're you're normal, it's normal, it doesn't affect you as
much the body gotten used to it, the soul had gotten used to it, it's not difficult anymore. And that tells you something about life in general, that life in general, it's like that it's difficult to adopt something in the beginning. But once you change, it's easy. And that change becomes habit, a new normal, and you don't even think twice about it. So that's something beautiful, that's another lesson and something beautiful to keep in mind in sha Allah. So you're not alone. ask Allah xojo. And if you're struggling, ask people around you, especially experts, or people have knowledge. I'm struggling with this. What do I do with it? whether it's physical, if it's physical, ask a doctor,
ask a physician, ask a personal trainer or
fitness expert, or if it is spiritual, religious, ask someone have knowledge. I'm struggling with this. I can't understand fasting, right? I don't understand, you know, I don't have the right mindset. How do I develop all of this? When you do this insha Allah you'll find out that Allah azza wa jal will assist you because you're trying to find a solution and Allah will guide you to it. So don't surrender to the difficulty. don't surrender to any challenges that may impede you know, insha Allah that you can be overcome all of that and be in the lair, reap the full or the maximum benefits of Ramadan that are available but understand that there's always struggle and every bad don't let
that dissuade you. There is struggle in Sunnah there's absolutely struggle in hajj, there is struggle, when you want to give us a car there is struggle when you want to be kind overtime or honest all the time. Don't let the struggle persuade you not to do the right thing. Continue to do it and Allah sees you when you're doing it and he rewards you immensely because of it to him.
Now, another thing, you know, that we we might be experiencing at this particular juncture
when we are either not motivated, or some would say I still don't have enough motivation to go into Ramadan.
I'm not motivated. Okay, I don't have the energy. I don't think I can do a lot. And it could be you know, COVID could play a part in all of this right, the distancing and the lockdown and the anxiety that could be one thing that has affected us that is a possibility our spirit is down or we're not have family around or we may not have the support of the masjid and the people in domestic and communal Eva. So maybe I'm down because of all of this other one thing. I have the energy
it's
First of all, it's important to acknowledge this, that this is happening. And if you know the reasons, it's also important to inspect and understand why this is happening because insha Allah, if you know the reasons, you can solve the problem.
But with all of that said, insha, Allah, we also cannot surrender to that feeling and say, I simply don't feel like it. So I'm not going to do it.
Of course, of course, we will not going to feel like doing a lot of good things in our life. And unless you push yourself or when you were younger, somebody pushed you, you would not do these things you would not study, you would not go to the masjid, you would not read the Quran, you wouldn't do a lot of beautiful things in your life. But you know that you need to push yourself. And once you push yourself and overcome that initial obstacle, it'd be easier than later. Okay, so if you say I'm working motivation, first of all, we say start making do out right now for Allah xo agenda to give you that spark, to open as Allah opens the doors of gender to opens the door of
righteousness for you. So that you start doing what you need to do in the month of Ramadan, as it as it starts.
We're not we're not saying overwhelm yourself. That's another thing that we're going to caution against, don't overwhelm yourself. But at the same time, you need to push yourself.
And you need to work this kind of balance
between not doing way too much. And then you burn out in the beginning of Ramadan. Or not pushing yourself and taking it so easy that you losing days and nights of Ramadan. No, you need to push yourself. And for that, as we said, Stop making do and asking Allah zildjian for his toe feet. For his facilitation for his guidance for his assistance. Yoga helped me and make this a blessed Ramadan and give me the energy and keep making this. Second, keep making dhikr of Allah.
And then get yourself excited about it.
We're not saying that you need to spend 24 hours in a bed. But now the gates of Jen are open. What do you want from those gates? What do you want from Jenna? This is your in my opportunity. So Pamela perhaps, maybe maybe, right? Maybe Who knows? You will you know, once we all die, you will look at one of these robots. And it could be this robot. And it could be this Ramadan where Allah has said to you, you are forgiven.
Right? And maybe other Ramadan's, you'll be busy, you'll be sick, you'll be somewhere else and you will not have this opportunity. So when we say this could be your last from a lunch, we're not saying that you're gonna die tomorrow. But that that
tofield, right. We're alive. So it didn't just leads you to,
to gender that tofield it could be available this lamola for some of us. Maybe other Ramadan's or maybe not. So seize that opportunity. You never know if it's going to come or not. You're not even talking about that. But we never know whether it's going to come or not. When a door of righteousness opens and you have that appetite to do something that is a sign from Allah azza wa jal that you are destined and you're supposed to do it.
So don't lose that opportunity. So get yourself excited about the normal one maybe this is the Ramadan where Allah is going to answer my drop and save me from hellfire. And take me to Jenna Manson my dog about this and answer banca about that maybe this is federal hold on where I'm going to be blessed for eternity because of for eternity forever because of it.
Right. So motivate insha Allah, yourself about Ramadan and
you know, educate yourself about the month and why it's important if you've listened to the rest of the series number one and number two.
And the third lecture as well. You will understand insha Allah What is so special about from Allah but if you've missed them, go back and listen to them or at least pick up a book of Hadith. That chapter about Ramadan chapter about the virtue of Ramadan if you have a real asahina at home or online.
The chapter on the virtues of Ramadan, the virtues of fasting read that so that you hear the words of Rasulullah sallallahu wasallam telling the Sahaba and telling you about the benefits of Ramadan that will insha Allah motivates you. Yeah, let me do something. Let me do let me deposit something this abundant will help me when I meet Allah zildjian helped me in times of need, okay after Ramadan who knows between this Ramadan and the next you will need something from Allah zodac and then you will find that you are this Ramadan is the thing that
To help you that's a very distinct and possible possibility right?
If lack of motivation have a plan in Ramadan that keeps you connected to Allah azza wa jal so what is it that you want to do?
What is it that you want to do in Ramadan right? So have a plan you need to sit with yourself and you see insha Allah fasting that is a given but I'm going to be praying clear at a very basic level we said even if I've like all motivation, even at a basic level, you pray your sooner for Asia after Asia, then you pray to Allah cause and you pre your woods. your router could be one record or three or four cars. That's all that is clear.
But I think insha Allah all of us even the one with the least energy in the robot can at least do this with some level of concentration and sha Allah and that's the minimum can we not do this every single night of Ramadan that's it
there's more to be done okay, but at least right for for those of us who say I don't have the energy I say okay you we can Charla work together and when we can do the following what can we do? You pray your Isha insha Allah on time wonderful hamdulillah you pray You're too soon as hamdulillah wonderful after those two Sooners give us two accounts of Tia. You want them to be long make them long, you don't want them to be medium medium, you want them to be short. Sure, that's fine, but to other cars, but just spent some time in sujood asking Allah xojo for what you want. After that.
You pray your Witter and hamdulillah Hello So you're done for tonight?
Okay,
you're done for tonight. Now there are those insha Allah insha Allah just repeat your comment and shall if you lost it, just repeat it in show
there are others who will do more a bad day and Amala just you know plan it so you can pray all your pm after Isha or you will say I don't have a lot of time after the show I'd like to sleep early maybe wake up before Federer and do it planet like that. So you can divide up the pm you can do some after Asia and the sun before frigid. Do what suits you what works for you and you can change it. If you get too tired you know or too used to one form of a data you can shift it in sha Allah
right
so I'll answer that in sha Allah moon sighting some people who cite the moon here some don't, but there is someone citing inshallah it does take place Yes.
So
so you have a plan for your pm you have a plan for your fasting, but to keep you motivated, what should you do? You need to and this is I included that in in a sense of being connected.
listen to lectures
whether it is something that is happening in Ramadan, or a series that you always wanted to listen to, or choose a couple of books in addition to the Quran, a couple of books that you want to read
kind of books that will motivate you in sha Allah Hadith Masuda lies a lot he will send them a series of ahaadeeth going to soften your heart you will hear the words of the prophets a lot he was sending them gives you a gives you a good focus everyone in your mama it could be biography, why sayings from the setup, whatever it is, but something that is a light enough, but be motivational.
This is what you want to do inshallah keeps you motivated or you can be connected online. And one of the things inshallah that we will do because this is the last session in this series, obviously about preparing for Ramadan, we'll have a daily session in sha Allah in normal blonde 10 minutes every day, just 10 minutes. So in one day, we will do a story from the Quran. Another day we'll be doing in sha Allah, a hadith from the prophets a lot he was in them and the only thing that we were doing is just 10 minutes Why just to keep us connected and motivated. He just join us in sha Allah will be 6:30pm drawn to time will be 6:30am Malaysia time. Okay, so just for 10 minutes just to sit
here something is short enough, but hopefully it gives you a dose a connection. And you can use that in sha Allah for the rest of the day. And if you need more meaning that there is more available either online or you can you know, choose a book and read but keep yourself motivated every day or Ramadan. And we'll talk more inshallah about other types of a better that he can put to keep yourself interested in Sharla.
And
so we tackle the lack of motivation I hopefully
That that have helped Ramadan in the area of COVID that you said you could be we could block motivation because of that we're doing things alone so I don't know how many people and in what countries will only be able to go and create or not
okay or join family in if thought or not all or so when you fasting alone praying alone It's difficult
okay?
Now remember in sha Allah with difficulty Allah rewards more right?
So if it's difficult because we're alone a Allah rewards you more for this Ramadan then a previous Ramadan where it was easier because you are around people that's that's one
also remember that
the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the Sahaba is this is this so think about that are we they did not pray to Allah we had to live with the profits a little audio send them and the term of abubaker they did not freak out with behind one email in the masjid.
They did not do that. They prayed individually right? Or you know two people behind an Imam, three people behind an email. That's That's it. That's what it was.
So they were dispersed and separated. And in the only crater we have together at the time of a model the Alo annual but they still fasted, they still prayed. They still enjoyed Ramadan because of them avant is not only about going to the masjid, although that is anathema. But it's not only about going to the masjid in Tel Aviv in general what if you don't have any other Muslim around? You're in a city or a country where there are very few Muslims and there is no Muslim around? What Ramadan diminish because of it will run out the rewards are often diminished because of it, or will it challenge you in sha Allah to discover what is the essence of Ramadan
so it's a panela when COVID trend down
some of the activities of Ramadan and some of the habits that we have joined to Ramadan, it does allow us to discover the essence of Ramadan where it is between you and Allah as his origin undoubtedly communal a better helps.
Right? communal feelings help
but they assist but if they are not there, Ramadan is still there and Allah is still there. And your connection to Allah is still there and it does allow you to discover Ramadan on your own and the Quran on your own and who should on your own and you have to look at it not as a setback in sha Allah, but as a gift from Allah xojo to allow you to discover something unique about Ramadan, maybe we would not have discovered it without this. Just think about it, then we would not have discovered
that aspect of Ramadan where we are alone with Allah and doing it because of Allah as I did not because my neighbor is going to turn away or my neighbor is fasting or my neighbor has invited me or the whole family is internally or I'm meeting people in domestic I'm praying in my whole Tara we are clear because I want to no one expects me to no one sees me No one is going to ask me whether I prayed or not. Or whether I came to the masjid or not I'm praying it because I want to and will mean something more because of that.
It's not out of habit. It's out of choice. Okay, I don't want to do it at home it's really out of choice. So that allows us to discover something about promo bond and no Milan is not about food Ramadan is not about social visits from Milan is not about staying up at night watching TV or Milan is none of these things are all done. It's about something deeper, which is your fasting and you're getting closer and closer to Allah xojo. So COVID allows that. So in that sense, right? It becomes a NEMA from Allah zodion because you allows you to see things in a different perspective inshallah. So
make it a journey of rediscovery not a reason to do less but in reason insha Allah to do more or qualitatively more like the quality of it will be better. I mean, I'll be able Allah Allah, you know, maybe some of us are, some of us I'm sure our I may not be able maybe to stand up as long as I would be able to stand up behind the Imam in the masjid. Over there in the masjid, I may be able to stand for an hour or more also, maybe at home I may not be able to do so for some of us. But maybe that half hour that I'm praying at home, I'm praying with more concentration, more devotion than an hour on praying in domestic what I'm just simply daydreaming as possibility says this let love that
because this love this experience in sha Allah. push us to discover something deeper about from Hold on. So be the law.
And hopefully the next Ramadan when it comes and we're all going to the masjid I'm going to the masjid. But I've rediscovered something about the Ramadan. And I appreciate more than if I had did not experience any of this Milan. So look at it as an opportunity inshallah.
Here in on Sharla, stressing, balance, balance is important. We said push yourself, okay? I said push up, push yourself. But some of us get so excited that they want to do everything enroll button and they burn out. I wanted like, memorize and I want to read and I want to pray. And I want to do this, and they want to do this. And they overwhelm themselves. So if you're like that kind of person, you know, be realistic about your expectations of what is possible in normal blog. So don't go to extremes, the extreme of wanting to do everything and accomplish everything. And the extreme of not having a plan and deciding that you know, this, I'm just going to skip this formula. I'm just
going to simply, you know, ignore this Ramadan, I'm just going to simply fast. But beyond fasting, I'm just not going to do anything. Now we need to push ourselves. And then we also need not to overwhelm ourselves. Now, what is the limit? Where's the where's the middle path? The middle path will vary based on your ability and my ability. What have you been been doing a normal bond and from last time hold on till now versus somebody else? So this is a good benchmark. If you want to understand what should I aim for? What is my benchmark? How much should I push myself? We say in Charlotte's ask yourself. What did you do last one of them? That's one thing.
The second thing What have you been doing from last normalled until now
that will give you an indication of what you're able to do in this Ramadan insha Allah so if last Ramadan let's give you just an example so that it's not too ambiguous last month on let's say, you've been able to read one juice a day. Okay. Now I'm not saying that we've been able to you know, duplicate this after Ramadan No, but at least in Ramadan, I've been able to last them a lot read one juice a day. I know that that's within my reach this Ramadan, right. I can do it physically. I can organize my time I can do it. So I at least will do one just a day. Got it and Sharla at least we'll do one just a day. I can push myself maybe. So let me try to do one and a half. Can I do it? If I
find it is too much for me, then I won't. But if I find that is still within remind my ability and I'm comfortable with that, and I still can read and understand and enjoy the Oran reading out one and a half juice each day then yeah, let's do that. Maybe it might be better the last Ramadan, I was able to do a half hour of sunnah of PM, I was able to have the lead to be consistent throughout most of the month.
So maybe this in sha Allah this Ramadan, I say I can do half hour hamdulillah because I've done that. But maybe I can do half hour or 45 minutes. Let's see, can I push myself to do more. So that's what I'm saying about push yourself, but not to the extent where you overwhelm yourself and sacrifice the rights of people around you. So you still are married or if you have children or if you have parents you need to take care of and your body also has rights upon you and your health has rights upon you. So give everything its right. Give everything it's right. But it's this is the opportunity this is the month to try to push yourself not to get into your own comfort and leisure
and say I just want to be it just want to relax, not going to push myself no and we know from the
end the son of the Prophet sallallahu wasallam that he would push himself in Ramadan more so so it says about the last 10 days and nights of Ramadan it says what should then Misa when they describe it can either
Nashville our
Washington Misa as it says about himself a lot he was saying that he didn't live in his night with with a bada what should that mean is that he will tighten them is that is our okay the Psalm The Lord that Lord garment the tread that covers the lower part of the body. What does it mean? They say it's symbolic of what being serious like when you tighten the knot because when you when you wrap right when you wrap it and you tighten it when you tighten it that means that you're ready to do work. So should the visa mean he got ready for it. So he pushes himself so the lotto so we push ourselves to try to write again not to so that you would overwhelm yourself and resent a bad day and
become so tired and new not in the mood and you're just doing it begrudgingly. Not saying that you should do this. When you get too tired to sleep the only you just you're not you don't not feeling it anymore. Relax gets you to give yourself a break. Pace yourself. Think about the importance of what desiring that a better focus
When you're doing that, and I'm loving that a better not only going to doing it you know, even if I hate it, I'll give yourself relax a little bit, inshallah you're tired, go and sleep you're tired, go and do something else, you died with one time there was a form of a battle to another form of a better but keep yourself interested. So I'm reading the Quran I read it now for half an hour and for an hour I got tired, I got tired, I feel like doing something else move on to a book inshallah or move on to do something some other type of Riba that you have, or maybe sign up or assisting in the house with a proper intention.
going online looking for a lecture or listening to a speaker that you like, something that keeps you motivated and interested, so very, those a batters don't get stuck, you don't need to get stuck very this about a and b and find the thing that speaks to your heart inshallah that keeps you interested that keeps you connected to Allah that softens your heart. So the issue there is not I'm just gonna pray for two hours, no matter how much how you know, how terrible I feel about it. No, Allah does not want that from you. He wants your heart in that a better so if you don't find your heart in it, do do some then move on to do something else. If you're reading the Koran but you're not feeling it,
maybe read the diff see the translation of what you read. Maybe that will inspire you to keep reading who knows right? And then make to Allah This is difficult for me yellow I'm finding it's hard, allow me out but I mean, you know, to overcome this to find the sweetness of Eva and keep making this to Allah xojo could indeed open the door of the sweetness that a bad and you can start enjoying it right. So
So we talked about that part that hamdulillah
simple advice in sha Allah that seems common sense don't overeat that's something insha Allah that should be
hopefully I don't know, I hope it's easy enough to follow
you know, we've developed this habit of Ramadan where we
invest so much of our time into cooking and developing meals and inviting others and all of that until you know we have special cuisine only for Ramadan special drinks only for Ramadan special meals and appetizers that we only eat them on our bond. And we have they become so associated with our Milan we almost feel that it's not Ramadan unless we have these things. And obviously, this is an addition it's our own addition to it all but it was never about these things, right? Number one was not about sugary drinks or fried food, or Milan is not about this. So
we as Muslims are we've developed this
we know for at least 1000 years or so. Where we will turn Ramadan from a month about staying away from food to a month that is about food. So I know that what I'm saying don't overeat I know that this is one of the things that happens that some of us have that we overeat and Ramadan Okay.
Now one of the problems with overeating and Ramallah and in addition to all the health harms that come with overeating and Ramadan, you know, when you shock your system with all of that food, but in addition to it right when you eat so much you become lazy and tired, and you're like motivation your body is just heavy. So it's hard for you to pray you're talking about you know, if you're in if thought when you eat so much he has heart and pm his heart and you're going to oversleep and if you wake up for your support, and you also overeat and you don't have anything to do then you'll go back to sleep again and you'll waste a lot of the day so eating less in addition to its health benefits
has spiritual religious benefits as well as it same time don't starve yourself don't make yourself sick. But also don't over eat. I don't know I want to useful advice you know, one of the scholars have written about this he had said just consider what you eat on your regular day like your regular dinner what is it that you eat every every single night? Don't eat more than more than that and only in your if
in fact you could you should or maybe you'll eat less but at least if we want to correct our behavior and not to be too drastic about it so that this could be a lasting changes to just consider what do you eat every night? What is your dinner he says this I eat this dish this much food dismiss rice this much this this must chicken is that's your if thought you don't need more than that.
Okay, so you don't compensate the fact for the fact that you did not eat your breakfast and the lunch by combining all of that into one meal and that eating it massive me that is not good for you on both levels, health wise and spiritual wise so not overeating. There's simple you know, advice and have the love but it will have its consequence.
When
we said insha Allah keep yourself reminded every day to be motivated. So maybe insha Allah, if you're living in a Muslim country, or you have access to a slight Amir, a Muslim bookstore, visit that muscle bookstore before Ramadan.
And just browse through the titles that you have, if not, you know, somehow the law. If not, if you're living in a non Muslim country, and you don't have access to a bookstore, a Muslim bookstore, maybe you would have to do this online or do it with online lectures. But let's say that you have a Muslim bookstore, go and browse the titles and consider what can I buy for this month for myself, and maybe even for my family where I would read this, one or two pages a day, five pages each day, 10 pages, nothing too major. Not not a major commitment, and not heavy reading. But this thing will motivate me well inspire me would push me and if I share this with my family in sha Allah after a
federal after us, between method and Asia, kind of like that the summary of the lessons that will motivate them as well will teach them something as well. So what title do I have? So as I said, a book of Hades is very easy to read like the other side of him. Okay.
Where you would be reading about honesty generosity set up this and that that could inspire you and remind you Oh, sadaqa Oh, I could do this in Ramadan, you will do it. Better Body Dean or silica raha more I can do this if I'm about to do it. So it's a panel that you're reading, you're learning and you're applying. Or it could be a biography could be biography, what sort of life a lot you sell them you could do if you have this time. And you can read that and hamdulillah could be one of the major scholars of Islam Sahabi tabea, he or one of the major scholars of Islam, or why sayings of the self if such a book is available in English, or your local language, reading something that we
can reconnect to you brings you back to Allah azza wa jal motivates you in Oban and you'll say, Oh, yeah, this is this is now now I'm inspired. Now I'm rejuvenated. Now I have the energy in sha Allah, different perspective, different energy. Yeah, I can go I can do something different this day. So subpanel life, if you seek it, you will find it as I said, and if you're living in a non Muslim country, maybe you have a Muslim bookstore, if you don't, you go online and you find such a book, or lectures, series of lectures, inshallah, you want something a little bit every day, a scholar that you'd like a speaker that you'd like, but who inspires you who says something meaningful, okay.
To slim, you know, to get thin as part of your fasting goals? Yeah, in Sharla, losing weight. As long as you know, it's not the major goal, right, the major goal is pleasing Allah. But in addition, you want to have other secondary goals. As far as I want to lose weight, I want to be healthy, I want to be more organized, these are secondary goals, and all of those inshallah are reasonable, valid goals. So you can you know, losing weight could be a goal of fasting and shall absolutely why not, but as again, in sha Allah, it's not the major goal, the major goal is pleasing Allah, and then these things in sha Allah could come as a byproduct of the fast and will come in Shell, but you can
have a magical
so something as we said, listen to something that will keep you motivated and inspired. And the more that you feel down the more that you need that. So just a little bit of research before Ramadan, just go to your library, go to your bookstore and just pick your me home library or bookstore, Muslim bookstore, select these books, hopefully insha Allah that will keep you motivated. And as I said, again, as a reminder, inshallah we're trying to do our best on our on our behalf here everyday in sha Allah will just try to meet with you for 10 minutes and just share Hadith from the prophets Allah you send them or a story from the Quran and the lessons from it. So hopefully we can hear
something and we say, yeah, here's something for today. Here's something that I can apply here is something that I can follow. Here's something that maybe inshallah can inspire me and maybe my day will be better because of it. I hope so inshallah. Last two things in sha Allah that I wanted to say.
So overall, develop a plan for yourself inshallah with everything that we said develop a plan for yourself. So think about the end of Ramadan I mean, it's too early to think about the end of Ramadan right now but once it starts, it's gonna keep going and then we'll end before we know it had a lot. So okay, now the end of Ramadan is approaching or now Milan has ended. What would you want to have achieved when you exit?
What is it that you want from Ramadan before it leaves? Now you think about Ramadan is over and now it's going to be over? What do you think that you want to achieve before eight is tomorrow
Okay, that would be in sha Allah your major plans in Ramadan, okay, I want to I want to be forgiven, I want to overcome this bad habit, I want to control my anger, I want to please Allah as of June, I want my heart to be better to feel better. I want to be closer to Allah, I want my daughter to be accepted, all these things are your plans. And in addition to the other secondary things that we talked about, I want to lose weight. I want this I want that. Anyway. So this is my plan. So I identify my major plans in Milan. Okay, so by the end of first week, or week one, what would I have accomplished? So in order to be able to achieve this by the end of this month? If I want to finish a
book, then how much should I have read? If I want to finish the Quran at least once? How much should I have read in one week? If I wanted to finish the Quran twice? If I wanted to finish the Quran with the translation once? How much should I read in one week? If I wanted to put deposit as many good deeds in Ramadan? What should I go in? What What is my plan for the first week? Okay, what how many good things can I do in the first week?
So this is the plan that we are talking about right? And varying acts of obedience, okay?
varying acts of obedience helps inshallah, just to keep you interested, just to keep you motivated. So
let's say for instance, you know,
one day you plan on helping people, right? Whether it is by picking up the phone and asking how they're doing, connecting with them in Ramadan, seeing if they need anything from you. Right. That's one thing that you can do, or connecting with family that Senator rahem, that's another act of a better that you can do, or sign up by giving certain time, one more time that you can plan, you can plan in sha Allah, to give sign up every single day, whether you are going to the masjid, or you're setting the Sunday sending this stuff electronically, or distributing the solar locally. But start giving something every single day. That's not an act, or
going online or going on social media, finding nice lectures, good reminders, and sharing that with your circle with those people who would welcome this right. You know, not bombarding people, you know, with unwanted unsolicited messages, but sharing it right with people and you know that they appreciate it, or they want to hear from you. That's another activity better. Just thinking about what other apps have a better that you can do, and asking Allah for them. And the more that you vary that, the more that you'll be motivated, because every ad is different than every ad is interesting.
And you may find opportunities to help people locally so panela. Or maybe if you have access to go to the message when you go to the masjid, you'll find other opportunities to just to help people smiling in people's faces, leaving the house, maybe you're going and buying food. And everybody's ice is on edge because of you know, social distancing and anxiety about infections and what have you, but extra acts of kindness committed or given to Muslims and non Muslims, assisting them forgiving others, right?
Let me loving somebody ahead of you, or stand to stand ahead of you in line.
Just being gracious. in Ramadan, that's an act of Ava. She's is finding ways where you can please allies, Odin in very different ways in different areas with different people, keeps you interested and motivated and makes your fasting really meaningful, because you see that I'm fasting and it's affecting a lot of people around me positively and hamdulillah I'm doing it not so that they admire me or say I'm a good person in my country. It's because this is pleasing to Allah, Allah loves it. So I'm going to do it because Allah zildjian loves it. Insha Allah.
So I said,
reading books, donating food, assisting people sharing advice and reminders,
as sometimes insha Allah just as far as the balance that we're talking about, and that could be part of your plan. You may need you may feel and you know yourself, you feel the need maybe to take some relaxing walks right after fidget or before method just to clear our head just to exercise this just move your body. If you're such a person do it. Why not? There's nothing wrong with it with a proper intention with the proper intention that business becomes a better, right.
You may you know treat yourself and family at certain junctures for achievements in Ramadan, so you can say to yourself and that is also valid. You can say to yourself in Sharla, I'm going to try to do my best throughout this week. And once insha Allah is successful, meaning that by the end of the week on Saturday or Sunday or
Monday whenever I'm going to treat myself and I'm going to treat my family, if we all reach our goal and shall I'm going to go and buy this food and buy this and buy that. Make it fun and make it interesting insha Allah so that you also your kids feel that, hey, we've done something we've achieved it. And robot is as a thing of beauty. When we are actually striving, we're doing something pleasing to Allah. But it's also linked and hamdulillah to and enjoyable, fun activity, and you reward them any reward yourself as well. And that could motivate you,
that could motivate you. So why not? So just understand yourself and understand what motivates you understand what inspires you and try to find it and try insha Allah to always do it with a proper intention of I'm going to eat this and even eating becomes a bad I'm going to eat this. And I enjoy eating it and humbler but I mean, and it's going to give me an added energy for Sadat. And I'm going to praise Allah for it, praise it from the freezer for the food and praise him for the salah and you feel just better about yourself. Because it hamdulillah you're always connected to Allah no matter what you're doing, eating you praise Him praying, you're praising you sleep and you praise and you
wake up and you praise Him and hamdulillah so you're all all of your days a better and when you are down recognize it. Yes, it's normal. It's natural. Some days of Ramadan you'll be down some days or old on you are going to be weak. It's not news, right? This is not news for any one of us. So don't be discouraged and disheartened by it. Also, Pamela I'm terrible. I am this I wasted my time a normal dawn I could have I No, no, it's absolutely natural, every single person will feel down and they will feel that there even has dipped in one or two or more days of Ramadan. And some of those nights you may not be energized you may not have that desire to do a lot this these are the nights
where it's important to at least push yourself to do the minimum you are you're completely not in the mood to pray completely. Okay, pray Eurasia as we said prayer sooner pray the minimum of pm and you're done. Maybe Allah soldier will give you energy to pray tomorrow, that's fine insha Allah, but you did it on for today. Now for the rest of the night maybe do the suit do some dhikr of Allah not do some for our not read a good book. And not not even that just go take a walk in Charlotte is go take a walk. And then just change scenery and change you know,
your routine and maybe that will inspire you, that's fine. Just recognize that if there is difficulty it will be followed with ease and sha Allah right, it will be followed with ease. So don't give up. And don't be so hard on yourself and say I wasted this and I wasted that that 70 give up on the rest that you give up on the rest of Ramadan. Less than Ramadan is available at hamdulillah. So just very the arts of which worship and keep yourself interested. Last thing and how they did that is
let's also fast not only because it's an obligation, meaning I have to do it. Let's also fast out of grab gratitude, out of sugar to Allah xuejun Yanni Allah, you gave us all this food that we enjoy in Ramadan and throughout the year. And now you asked us to stay away from it. Just to thank you for it. Because you love this. I'm going to stay away from this.
Right? I'm not gonna drink just to thank you.
And because you love this Eva, and because I want to love you and I want you to love me. Yeah, Allah, I will also fast so that I could love you and for you to love me. Because when you fast Allah loves you. Allah loves the smell that comes out of your mouth. And Allah loves you more than that snow.
So when you fast Allah loves you. So you say I want to be loved by Allah.
And I want to love Allah as though I did and a bad that brings you closer to the level of Allah. So we can also fast out of love. Yanni we said this is a distinct a bad as we said in the first lecture. This is a distinct Eva that belongs to Allah exclusively. So you say Allah loves it so much. I want to give this to Allah who did not that Allah needs it, God forbid. But Allah loves it. So I want to do this for his sake for him.
So it's a better that Allah loves and I want to do it out of love.
So do you are fast out of love and feel the love a lot as you're doing it? Allah loves me as I'm doing it, and you are being loved as you are being thirsty. And as you're being hungry, and as you're struggling with it, you're being loved. And that is a beautiful feeling. Right? And the more that you do with insha Allah The more that that you will enjoy it. I hope I asked Allah
for that to be the case.
So hamdulillah that's what I wanted to say in sha Allah for today. So
Before I answer the questions again, I know I repeated this twice the last time insha Allah so this is the last lecture inshallah in the series throughout the month of Ramadan inshallah we'll be meeting with you inshallah, on the same platforms and the three platforms so YouTube, Facebook and Instagram if Allah helps us 10 minutes each day. So one day we will do a story from the Quran summarize his story and the benefits from it 10 minutes now more inshallah. The other day the next day we'll be doing one Hadith from the Prophet sallallahu wasallam will read the head you will say this is what the Hadith is, and these are the benefits from this is what the Hadith is and these are
the benefits so we'll do around in sha Allah so because we will alternate so we'll be doing in sha Allah in total about 15 stories or 14 stories from the Quran and then about 14 or 15 Hadees from the Prophet sallallahu wasallam will be at 630 in sha Allah every single day 6:30pm our time local time 630 if you are in Malaysia in sha Allah 6:30am Malaysia time sharp
So shall we have maybe just we don't have a lot of questions I have one question that I received over Facebook previously about what salsa I don't know if the one who had asked it is watching i hope so. If not, maybe he can watch it later. So about so I'll answer these questions and I'll come and shout out to that question in Sharla.
So, I would like to know if I cannot officially declare Masjid as a Masjid because of so many obligations here. Am I sinful if I do this?
Okay, so I've not I don't get what this question is asking. I would like to know if I cannot officially declared Masjid as a Masjid because of so many obligations here in my sinful if they do this, I don't understand what that question is saying. Do you mean that I cannot go to the masjid
because of so many obligations that I have? Is that what it means? So if you can inshallah, just clarify your question inshallah. So it doesn't mean that you cannot go to the masjid because of so many obligations. So let me and Sharla know if that's what you meant by
Article salon how to arrange the plan, read the Quran after Salah to achieve urges during a working hours or new suggestions for this mission. So how do you organize it in sha Allah Of course it all depends on your schedule. So I obviously for info when you're working you're not going to have a lot of time to be able to do these things. But I'm hoping inshallah at the same time so I'm assuming maybe, I mean, let's say that you're living in a Muslim country that you have reduced hours of work I hope in sha Allah
but you can spread out the better so the Koran I don't know if you will at work you'll have time after the war and after us I don't know when you get home but maybe you'll have some time after frigid to read some just some pages of the Koran. Let's say for instance you read so ages is about 20 pages for most talking Medina the columns have it's about 20 pages so if you read about four pages after each Salah you're going to get inshallah just 34 pages, right? So for after federal for Africa over four after also for after method for after aishah
declared that it's so declared a prayer room as a Masjid.
Okay, insha Allah, okay, so I'm assuming inshallah, we're talking about females, right? So talking about declare the prayer room as a Masjid. And we're talking about females, not males, just clarify that I can answer it either way, inshallah.
So, if you're reading four pages in sha Allah, PR, after each Salah, you're going to get to just a day.
Right? And you'll be able to do more on the weekend, right?
And you'll be able maybe to do more insha Allah once you come back home and you
finish cooking, finish eating so you have some time between Asia until you go to bed, or when you wake up before fudger so you can do more. So just plan it according to your schedule. If you can sneak some moments in sha Allah throughout the day where in addition to reading the Koran, you're doing some thicker. So as you're walking and coming back, right as you're doing something that does not require
not only that does not require a lot of attention, right? Something that is routine. You can repeat that the core of Allah azza wa jal, you can make do as you're walking and coming.
You can assist people you can help you can smile on their faces, you can make do out for so and so when you see them.
After the dead when you when you remember that all of these things can be done and it's all a band that in the lawsuit and so find different opportunities to make this a better and fill your day fill your day with Eva when you go you know well
make sure inshallah you for your behalf. So now if it's available, I mean, if you have the time for it while working, when you begin something, say Bismillah just keep the name of Allah keep his remembrance with you, no matter what you're doing throughout the day, when you enter your uh, your vehicle and you want to drive see the do up for mounting and mounting or an animal or you know, driving a vehicle say that do I learned that? Do I write it down, stick it in your car until you memorize that now you've run the new do now we run the new the current will stay with you in Sharla
when you enter in the form, remember Allah's Name, so all of these things, keep adding them right keep adding them, if I don't have opportunities, you know, to finish the whole on
the whole Quran, I can finish some parts but as I said, I can do other types of rebirth as well. So hamdulillah if we don't have this, we have so many other things in Sharla that we can do. Just you know, figure out what your schedule is, and how all the small things that you can infuse and spread throughout your day if you're working so that insha Allah you can maximize as we said your time in Ramadan.
There is this financial question insha Allah I'll come back to it in sha Allah later
because that requires contemplation because I don't have it on the top of my head to
all the information about paying the cat for this or pings a cat for that. It's just not not here in shells I have to think about
so going back in shelter this question and then the question about what's USA.
So you want to officially declare a Masjid as a Masjid because of so many obligations? So you want to have a Masjid at home? Okay, Masjid at home? No. So, first of all, let's say it is actually sooner to dedicate a place in your house as a mystery.
It's called
any muscle bait or musty debate, it is actually sooner. This is the place where we pray all the time. It could be a room could be a corner or it could be
part of a room whatever it is insha Allah but a spot where you pray all the time. That could be well sundel bait or the masjid or the bait. So it actually legitimate to do this. Now, if you're female, absolutely, absolutely praying there is the best.
If you're female praying, there is the best it's better than praying in the mystery. Now if you're male, right,
and I mean, I'm going to exclude our current circumstances I'm just speaking in general not not with with lockdown and all of this. If you're male, praying in the midst of this better, we're talking about the obligations praying in the masjid is better.
And if you can hear the event, yeah, you're from a distance right? Where the masjid is so close, you can hear the event not from speakers, not from speakers, but from just a loud calling of the just normal
human beings voice and if they just call the event without the aid of anything technical with any speakers, but if they just call the event and you could hear him some scholars have said it's an obligation on you to go to the masjid but nevertheless let's just say that whenever you have the opportunity insha Allah as a Muslim living especially in a Muslim country where that typically is where the MST is that close to you know Muslim countries you don't usually don't get that
then you should inshallah head to domestic it is better, it is better. Now under the common COVID circumstances, you really want to consult your local scholars and you know, just consider locally whether it is safe to go or not.
Whether it is easy to go or not. So it's gonna that's gonna vary based on location and your health condition and the recommendation of officials and also you know, the ruling scholars in your area so that that is something that you need to consult locally in Sharla but if you am talking about nested inside the house here for a female inshallah that's the that's the best place to have for a male that is the best place to pray sooner. We obligations try insha Allah to do your best to pray
in the masjid, you know, find your awesome mammography. If you cannot and at least pray at home. If you cannot then at least pray at home wallow on either either because, as you said there are too many obligations and these aren't legitimate obligations. It's domestic is too far you don't have transportation, something like that was served and knows what it is.
Right.
Now the last question insha Allah will answer in sha Allah the financial question and shall come back to it not today in sha Allah.
There's a question about what sorts of from a brother
a government obligations then of course, right? If there are like, restrictions on you where you cannot go to the masjid obviously, then you pray at home, whether they're male or female, or you have serious obligations where you cannot leave them. Obviously, you cannot leave to the mess Did you pray at home in sha Allah? There's no sin with that inshallah.
Okay, okay, what is the ruling on decorating homes for Ramadan, like putting a crescent tree? Okay, so you can decorate the home for Ramadan in sha Allah, there's nothing wrong with it, I would not recommend putting a crescent tree because it does look like a Christmas tree or a Christmas wreath. So it's close, like a kind of a Muslim bad imitation of what the non Muslims do with their holidays. So if you want to recommend me, if you want to decorate for Ramadan, decorate for Ramadan, that's fine inshallah you can decorate for Ramadan. But let us not copy what the non Muslims do in their celebrations. And the just, you know, we can't like bring a Christmas tree and we call it the
Ramadan tree. And changing the names doesn't really change the reality of what we're doing. Like a Christmas tree, we'll put lights around it, and we say oh, what they're doing it and Christmas, we're just going to do with them Ramadan and ADA, we're just going to call it a tree or Ramadan tree. So if we just you know, change the shape, and it becomes a crack cresson tree, from the same maybe tree even that that they use for Christmas, or for celebrating Christmas or you know the wreath that they have, that they just had, and it has.
Usually it's just associated with Christmas, we do if we just cut it and we make it into a crescent, it doesn't change reality will light up. So don't copy. So if you want to do it, do it islamically decorate reasonably in sha Allah things that you know are related to our lawn, but just copy what they're doing and just look call it something Islamic. So there's nothing wrong in sha Allah with decorating for Ramadan. But as I said, Do not imitate the non Muslim celebrations. Because that simply becomes a bridge for us to think like them to act like them and to start celebrating their festivals because they just look like ours.
Like if our he looks exactly like Christmas, your kids are not going to see the difference between eat and Christmas.
So they'll think eat and Christmas are the same, we're all the same. And if they think that they're the same, then they're thinking we're the same in belief as well. That doesn't matter whether you believe in Allah or not. Whether you believe Allah is one or three or five or 10. Because all these religions start looking the same because they're being celebrated the same. So they have to be distinct. So decorate for aldohn in ways that are distinct from other festivals, especially religious festivals, but other festivals in general, because festivals in particular, are one of the most distinct,
distinct practices that keep people
and faith and practice pure.
Because they there's a signal that we are together we're different. This is our a bed and this is why we're different. So anyway, insha Allah Eonni
decorates as I said, the decorates for all time but distinctly from other festivals and other people in sha Allah so that it remains distinctly Islamic.
The question about what she was saying, shala somebody was asking that they were having this was worse. And this was was about
Allah azza wa jal and about the Quran authenticity of this and authenticity. They're saying, where we are really struggling with this, and it's affecting me and I'm just the person is about to collapse, he says, and Subhanallah I mean, first of all, we have to understand that this was wasa are these bad thoughts, the source is from the shangela.
Maria, the sources from the shapefile. And you have to recognize when you are being hounded,
and with these type of bad thoughts that come that want you to doubt the existence of Allah or the authenticity of the Koran, or the prophets a lot. He was sitting on the foundations of faith that this is not coming from you. This is coming from the shapefile especially as it keeps attacking you and attacking you and attacking you. And it's making you weak and miserable and sad that a thorn sees all of this and is happy because of it and he keeps attacking you
Because he wants to keep you making you weak. So the first thing to realize is this is coming from the shape and this is not you.
So what should you do when you realize something is coming from the shape? What do we do?
Now that doesn't mean the shape on the regime immediately. So you keep asking Allah for protection from the shaitaan every time repeatedly every time repeatedly until Allah conquers the shapefile you say Oh to be done ministry phonology yo Allah you know the shaitaan is attacking me right? No, I wouldn't be naming a chiffon would you say it from a heart that is really that desires Allah protection are all the winner him in a ship but y'all are protecting me from the ship on Ya Allah defeat him. Y'all Take him away y'all establish amen in my heart, yeah, Allah, I believe in you.
Who Allah has allowed me to do what I'm you want me to know Go ahead. So say these things. I'm going to be the I believe in Allah alone. I disbelieve in the sheep fun in a sense in the whispers of the sheep plan. And say I say these things, the shaitaan will see your determination and will run away when you seek Allah's assistance.
You are weak and I am weak when we try to fight the shaitaan alone, you bring a lot in it in the sheets on runs away, can withstand the Fed just the mention of Allah's Name, cannot say, Oh, we live in a shared regime, say read ayatul kursi read Surah Al Baqarah. This is this is the opportunity for you to the really defeat the shaytaan. If the chiffon is really has mounted such an attack against you, you're going to mount it you have to you have to defend yourself and mount a counter attack.
And that counter attack, especially in the month of Ramadan, it could be that I need to read Surah Al Baqarah, repeatedly to cleanse my soul in my body and my home of the shavon. So you can read in Surah Kabbalah to defeat the shaitaan. And if you have given the shavon power over you through some particular sins that you and I are doing, you stop that
is the sheath on becomes stronger and weaker. When there's a particular sense inspect your life. I'm doing this sort of this wrong thing. And this one thing, stop this, stop this stop that there are obligations I'm neglecting, do them to weaken the sheath on and make yourself strong. Because this is a fight. And it's really a fight for survival. It's not an exaggeration. You know, the shaitaan can try somehow to attack you so much that it can destroy your life.
Right with these whispers, so you have to realize that he's an enemy of yours to take him as an enemy and defeat him. So don't listen to him. So a counter attack. So say I mean administrators on the regime. Know that these thoughts are from the ship plant, quit thinking about them. Just ignore them. Forget it, don't take them seriously. See that they were they're frivolous based on nothing. If you have serious doubts,
go and consult a chef or an email ask I have I have issues with this. Can you answer these questions of mine? Get the sheath on keeps revisiting me trying you know to this day, but destabilize my faith? So tell me how can I ask you this question? And that question shall let you find the answers. But if only thing that you have are just thoughts and suspicions and doubts that are baseless, this is from the Shakedown, ignore them. Stop, I will never share them again and then occupy yourself with something that is useful, do something that is useful. Don't think about these things. Don't be alone. Don't be alone be around other people inshallah. And it was difficult a bit but surround
yourself with the remnants of a lot if not play the order on play a lecture. Okay, strengthen your Eman insha Allah and as I said, if you have questions about things that are really troubling you islamically you don't understand what they are why they are asked. I think insha Allah, if you ask Allah
to protect you from the shape but if you ask Allah repeatedly to assist you, against these whispers against that anxiety against that
even depression if what you're feeling is depression.
If we are sick and we keep on crying, is that a sign that she thought is in influencing us? Okay, inshallah I'll answer them. So if you're sick and you keep crying,
if you are sick, like physically sick and you're crying, is that what do you mean by by sick?
Okay.
So if you keep asking Allah to assist you with that anxiety and even depression that you are feeling, and especially the month of Ramadan is coming, you can make it you know, one of the missions of Ramadan if you keep asking Allah for it from your heart, and you just do these things that insha Allah, Lazo general assistance.
Do it
and you don't need to suffer under that was for so you don't need to suffer under that was was
okay.
So I hope that had that had that had helped. And the person that asked the question is listens to this in sha Allah and they're still they have still some issues insha Allah just was a striking show.
Somebody just asked if you are sick and you keep frying is that
terminal illness? Okay, sure. So if someone is terminally ill, and they keep on crying, does that mean that the shaitaan is influencing you?
It could mean that he has the shaitaan is trying to sadden you.
Okay, there's another question here in our building, we like to dedicate a place for prayer, but because of lots of regulations, we and then it cuts off so if you can put this in sha Allah on YouTube, that'd be great inshallah.
So if someone is terminally ill, and May Allah xeljanz give everybody shifa and patience. If someone is terminally ill,
it's difficult. And I don't know if I can say enough, where I can be adequate in addressing this. And in a minute or two.
It's not an easy thing, when you discover that this is it.
It's also It doesn't mean that
that's the end of all hope.
Because a loss surgeon can change anything, that's one, it's always a possibility.
The other thing is that
there might be great benefit in it. Even if someone is terminally ill, great benefit in it, where a loss of just takes away so much of your sense, and has given you the opportunity to repent,
review your life, make up for
the bad things that may have been done. And compensate for missed opportunities.
A lot of people die suddenly, and they don't have that. Right. So if you keep your eyes focused on the fact that I'm not only going to die, I'm going to transition.
I'm gonna pass on this really beautiful work to think about passing on. It's not i'm not ending. So only one phase in life, you know how you were living in a country, and then you pack up all of all your belongings, and you move and migrate to another country travel.
That's exactly it. So even if you're terminally ill, and I know and I'm not going to underestimate the gravity of that news.
What do you think this is it, that's it, I'm saying goodbye to everything I know. But your life is not going to end your life simply is going to transition from one to the other.
So submit to Allah's decision and the fact that this is what Allah wants. If ultimately, this is what Allah wants, it's the best for you. And for me, surrender to it, no need to cry,
there will be days where it will be difficult, but no need to cry, inshallah no need to cry. Because a it does not going to change anything unless you know, you just need to kind of release. Right? That's one thing, but no need to cry, meaning that there is something positive in it be in the law, just the fact that you could sit for a day or two and just kind of repent from everything. And forgive everybody and ask Allah from your heart to accept you and to assist you and to put you in general protective from hellfire. Just that opportunity is an enema. There. Believe me a lot of people do not have but now you have.
So why are you crying when alive giving you this? So rather than waste these moments, these really precious moments that you have feeling sorry for yourself, invest them, because there will come a time where if you don't invest it, you may look back and say I was so foolish. I had time in this dunya I could have done this and this. I just was feeling sorry for myself, all of us are going to die all of us I'm going to lose our health all of us are going to be under in the grave under the under under Earth. All of us are going to go through this. So don't don't waste this opportunity. Okay, don't miss this opportunity. Yes, if the only thing that you're doing is feeling sorry for
yourself and crying and blaming
and questioning why it has happened, then yes, you are surrendering to the influence of the shaytaan who is weakening you and we can in your email. But if you say no be in the law with Allah so I'm stronger. This Allah decided this
Allah chose this for me. And Allah wants the best for me all the time for the remaining days and months and years that I could have lonely knows how many you have. Do something that will help you
that is the thing that will make you flattest when you are about to die when you will be smiling when you see the angels of a Lhasa descending. And you say yes, I want to leave I want to leave and when you meet a lot as you say Al Hamdulillah I don't want to go back What was I crying over wanting to stay in this dunya so hamdulillah you know i mean i'm i asked a lot as though just to give you patience and and insight and wisdom and he man and keep increasing your email so that you can see all of this and realize Allah's gifts and just in take advantage of the time that Allah has given you. So I asked a lot hesitant to make it.
So we cannot declare it as a mosque people are saying because we are hiding this information will be sinful, are we sinful?
So the question here
oh insha Allah, somebody did post it to YouTube. So what I understand from your question,
is that fear insha Allah, this is not moving. See, I have trouble with this. Okay.
Let me see here.
So it says our building we like we we like to dedicate a place for prayer. But because of lots of regulations,
we cannot declare it as a mosque, people are saying because we are hiding this information will be sinful or we sinful. If we're not, if the government does does not allow you in sha Allah to congregate like that,
then you're not supposed to congregate. Right? Because you can actually end up harming yourself and people in the building. Just as strictly follow government's regulations. I'm not saying this because I'm online, somebody can see me, even if you just asked me this personally, inshallah, if the government is telling you, right, this is not helpful, right. And you can end up actually infecting other people when you congregate like that insula. Now, I know that you know, where we living, you know, they they do have with social distancing, they have a limit on the number of people who can congregate for a better. So if you can do that, within government regulations,
following government regulations, where you're not harming yourself or introducing harm to other people that have that in that, then you do this. If not, if it's violating the government regulations, we say don't do that, pray at home, pray at home, right? And it could be sinful, it could be sinful, just because of the harm that it can lead to. Okay, so inshallah, I want you to keep that in mind in sha Allah, if there's no harm, that's something else. But because there's actually potential harm that we can bring in a lot of people who may come and pray, they may not be
aware of
their own
sickness are very transparent about how sick they are. Some of them could be older,
non vaccinated. So if that happens, you know, they could infect a lot of other people. So I'm saying insha Allah, because yes, it could be sinful, and you realize some how to lie even in the,
in the heart, I'm in Mecca. And in Harlem, in Medina, there are specific actually
strict regulations about who can come and pray in the home. And they have to be vaccinated, and they have to show proof and all of this. So it'd be the same over there. You have to follow government regulations when you're Mecca and Medina, not to our people. And you'd have to do it here because regardless of whether it is Muslim or non Muslims, right.
So it's not for COVID, not just for regular time.
Okay.
Just not for COVID not for regular time, and it's government regulations. I'd have to understand what these government regulations are. Right. So is it say in the safety issue or something else? So I'd have to understand what these government regulations are, if they are meaningless. If they're meaningless, like that. There's no harm absolutely no harm. You're absolutely sure that there is no harm, but it's just meaningless regulation, meaningless regulation, red tape, red tape, bureaucracy, right. And there's absolutely no harm. There's no harm. There's no sin in it. Okay.
inshallah, so planning ahead. So there's no harm in it. It's just red tape. Just, you know, as you said, just bureaucracy that imposes laws and they just, they don't make sense. And there's absolutely no harm. You're not harassing anybody while doing it. It's not
sinful to congregate in sha Allah, as we said, You're not trespassing, you're not
hurting anybody while doing it. But if there is harm, and that's the thing that you would have to verify if there is harm, then you would have to avoid that in show. Right? And there was another one here that I've noticed. And I apologize for Facebook. I started to learn sooner and follows sooner the profits are loose in them, but some people told me that we cannot and it cuts off. Okay, so I'll see if I'll be able to see it on YouTube and Shawn lon Watch out. I'll try to answer that question. Anyway in sha Allah so I'm probably going to wrap up God your answer cocaine shelf.
So in sha Allah so I've been the Lazarus thing I'm going to wrap up because I don't think I can read that question until unless I receive it before I just finished this session. So ask a little bit I mean, Mr. Mohammed insha Allah to to
guide us in this funnel but just to ask him Spanner with the added to plant the seeds of sincerity and devotion and enthusiasm for a hold on in us and they asked a lot of but I mean to make this all on this coming Roman law better than all the previous remobilized that we have had and the Ramadan if we were to live to reach the one that comes after that to make their own that is after that even better than this Ramadan and so progressively each Ramadan as we get closer to Allah be better than the one that is before it. vasculopathy Armenia Allah make us excited for the coming of the month of Ramadan make us of those who take advantage of it those who are accepted in it those who are
forgiven in it will ask you out but I don't mean to make use of those will make do up and pray and ask you for benefits than in the hereafter and in the dunya we're actually to make as a whole those who fast email and then what the server and make us of those who pray amen and what is up okay I got I got the question here okay and it dropped the dog very quickly in Charlotte. Let me see. I started to learn sooner and follow this sooner said we cannot follow a lot because he is a prophet and special Is it correct an example he ate one time a day but I want to try that please advice.
So the prophets of Allah audio is sending them okay, so let me just answer this in sha Allah so not everything that the prophet SAW when he was sending them did do you'll be able to do but most of what the prophets on insulin Did you can do most of the sooner you can do. So you're talking about the prophets always eating once a day are you talking about in Ramadan? Are you talking about outside of Ramadan? If you're talking outside of Ramadan, we have no evidence that the Prophet only eat once a day. Outside Ramadan, we have no evidence of that. Okay, if you're talking about the Ramadan, you can restrict yourself to one meal and Ramadan if you want. But, you know, you do want
to do two things, two meals, or no more than two hit the sooner you want if thought and you want support. Now, we talked about support before it could be just dates, it could be just water, but you have to consume something. So support and if that if violence to hope. So no most of what the prophets AutoSum did is within reach, and he did it so that we can imitate him. So no, it's not right for someone to tell you don't follow a lot when the Prophet sallallahu Sallam did because he's a prophet. There are certain things but they're not many certain things that he did that he only He can do. Most of what he did a lot he was sent him is within reach. And if you cannot do 100% of it,
you can do 50% of it. 25% of it, but you're still right within the realm of doing things that he did a lot he was in them. You cannot fast every Monday and Thursday. First Mondays. Fast Thursdays, fast three days every month. That's fine within the realm, you can do something like himself alone. Right? So if you're confused about specific things, ask insha Allah, but eating one time a day, that's not as soon Okay, let's not assume decreasing your food within reason, right? And you say okay, what's the limit? 1/3 let's say stick to this 1/3 of your stomach is food. 1/3 is water and one for a third is empty. Okay, stick to that inshallah and be healthy. don't restrict your intake
of food to make yourself sick. That's not soon again. So we're going back and shout out to the dude we asked earlier about Armenia hammer I mean, makers of those who fast Ramadan email and YT server so that all of our sins are forgiven and missed the year in Ramadan email and like the server so not all of our sins are forgiven. We actually have been added mean for sincerity in Ramadan, makers of those who fast out of gratitude and out of love for you, those who conquer their Shabbat and they're just
in Ramadan, you know a lot as our
mouths fast from eating and drinking a lot of our tongues too fast from falsehood, and a lot of our eyes too fast too fast from how long allow us to fast from our bodies to festival Hold on, and allow our hearts to fast from haraam era anime. We also have been I mean, to make us of those who are freed from Hellfire in the month of Ramadan, and of those who worship you on labor to others and are accepted and there are a better is accepted in later to cut the makers of those who witness later to cotton are accepted in it. Allah will show up and allow me to read the Koran and the Kinect with it in the month of Ramadan allow us to do a lot of charity in it allow us to do a lot of things that
are pleasing to you all but I mean, when we are tired when we are sick, you're alone in a normal bond. Allow us to remember you and seek your assistance and help us overcome our own weaknesses and our addictions and lack of motivation were to open and I mean to invite us and make us on the invited in the month of Ramadan. And I mean if someone would be accepted in the month of Ramadan, we ask you to bless our parents, bless our spouses, bless our children, versus our families, close family and extended family and bless our neighbors and bless the Omar Mohammed sobre la he was where I asked you to be among the righteous of those who are guided and those who guide others. I mean
you're but I mean, this concludes in sha Allah the series in sha Allah and we will see you throughout the month of Ramadan in the 10 minute reminders every day does not going to love it. I mean Allah bless Ramadan for us all and May Allah will make it one of the best Ramadan that we have witnessed. We conclude by saying Subhana kolomna will be handing the sugar Allah either as the funeral kawakubo la hamdulillahi Rabbil alameen wa salaam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato