Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh,

The last ten nights are here, and as the doors of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness are wide open, we’re preparing to take a break from our regular posting activities at IGIC.

Our advice to everyone is to do the same – to spend time away from the internet, and to give as much time as possible to the worship of Allah. Make i’tikaaf if possible, for all ten nights or as many as you can. Pour your heart and soul into the coming days, into your du’aa and prayer and hope in Allah.

The last ten nights are here, and Laylat al-Qadr could be any night, including tonight. Allah has blessed us all with this amazing chance – so take the keys of opportunity that lay directly before you, and search hard for Allah’s pleasure and reward.

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If you’re debating the issue of hijab in your head, if you want to start wearing  a scarf or jilbab or niqab and fear is holding you back – if you want to take that “leap” this Ramadan – don’t hesitate any longer. Raise your hands up in du’aa, and know that Allah answers the call of the caller when he calls out to Him.

Here are a few pieces from the site you might have missed; we hope and pray that they’ll be of help to you:

And She Leaps – and so can you!

My Inner Struggle for Hijab – what’s holding you back?

Welcome to My Life – a day in the life of our sister, and how one year later, everything changed

[You can also browse through the IGIC archives, where you'll find a list of all our previous posts.]

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If you missed our Ramadan-related posts from the last few days, here they are again for your benefit:

When the Night is Dark – with resources and advice regarding qiyam

But I Can’t Pray – specifically for our sisters who can’t pray at this time; no need to miss out!

Small Words, Big Reward – a list of beneficial athkar; simple words that come with a big reward

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Also, a few other worthy articles regarding the last ten nights:

GPS for the Night that is the Best – an easy to read guide on Laylat al-Qadr

Exclusive Sunnan for the Last 10 Nights [Ibn Rajab] – a list of five sunnahs specific to the last ten nights in Ramadan

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And finally, a must-see video on Laylat al-Qadr, what it is, and why we should all be searching for it (“it shakes the mind”):

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Jazakum Allahu khayran to everyone who visited this site during Ramadan, everyone who read our posts and shared them with others, everyone who took just a minute or two to make du’aa for us. We may not get the chance to say it often, but after seeking the pleasure of Allah, our readers (you guys!) are the biggest motivation for this site. Your support and your du’aa, your comments and your feedback, mean more to us than you can know. Please continue to make du’aa for us, and visit us again after Ramadan when we’ll be back to posting insha’Allah.

May Allah ta’ala bless the remainder of your time and ours in this precious month, grant us the reward of Laylat al-Qadr, and allow us to witness Ramadan for many years to come. Ameen.

“When the night is completely dark, it finds them [the people of taqwah] staying up in the night; fear has chased away their sleep, so they stay up, while those who feel secure in this life quietly sleep on.”

— Abdullah ibn Mubarak

With two thirds of Ramadan over, and the last ten nights almost here, it’s more important than ever for us to take our relationship with Allah to new heights. Aisha radiya Allahu anha narrated (as recorded by Bukhari and Muslim) that when the last ten days of Ramadan came, the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam would stay up at night and would wake his family up, and would abstain from marital relations. In another narration in Muslim, we’re told that he used to strive hard in worship during the last ten days of Ramadan as he never did at any other time.

And with Laylat al-Qadr, the night better than a thousand months, falling on one of these last ten nights, we can’t afford to do anything other than follow in his footsteps, salla Allahu alayhi wasallam. One of the best acts of worship we can engage in at this time is the night prayer. The night prayer is a beautiful act of worship that encompasses the other kinds of worship – reciting Qur’an, remembering Allah and praising Him in dhikr, making du’aa – all as you stand and bow and prostrate before His Majesty.

We’ve handpicked a few resources on qiyam to help you (and us!) prepare for the blessed nights to come. Please take the time to read through them all, and more importantly, put in the effort to pray and worship during these coming nights.

*** We realize that some of our sisters can’t pray at this time, but don’t loose hope. Here’s another list of resources to help you out. ***

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I Wore My Best Hijab Today

I wore my best hijab last night, a beautiful, shiny hijab with bright embroidery and sequins. I never wear bright scarves when I go out. I try for dull, matte colors – usually black, if I’m being honest – to match the black abayas I wear. I don’t want to look bad when I go out, but I don’t want to look particularly attractive or decorated when I’m outside my home either. I do it because of this ayah, the ayah in Surat an-Noor, “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears…” [24:31].

I’m content and comfortable with the way I dress, happy even, but wearing black can be hard for just one reason… [Read more]

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Jihad by Night

“For twenty years I waged Jihad against myself.  I struggled, all throughout to remain standing in prayer at night.  For those twenty years I never tasted the sweetness of the night prayer.  It was only after that that I found comfort and sweetness.” These are the words of one of the greatest scholars of the early generation.  Al-Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawri (161 H) is known as one of the Eight Ascetics of his age.  He was, rahimahullah, ‘aabid – a worshipper.

Twenty years of Jihad by night.  No sweetness was experienced by ath-Thawri (rahimahullah) for twenty years? Nevertheless he kept the course with unwavering inspirational sabr.  He struggled in fear, campaigned in love, and toiled in hope of Allah… [Read more]

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A Word in Passing

I recall them still. They were moments of excitement and transformation during days of innumerable blessings.

Sixteen, my friend and I, and our phone conversations were altered from what they had been just before the start of the month: short now, and to the point, announcing a lecture on television (“it’s on, now, don’t miss it!”), sharing a hadith, recommending a good deed waiting to be done.

We were school girls, racing with ourselves and each other, not content to run alone. Instead, we met on the path, poised, ready to exchange pieces of wisdom and inspiration that might propel us forward. We ran, we paused, we passed them on – like batons in a race – and knew, wherever the batons went, whatever people they reached or work they inspired, good deeds would come. It’s the first Ramadan I truly remember. And I insist… [Read more]

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The Vigil of Standing and Prostration

In continuing with the noble traits of the true servants of The Merciful, we find that they are characterized by a deep sincerity; they give up their precious sleep time in devotion to their Most Gracious Creator.

The Most High elucidates the next quality of His servants who are, “Those who spend part of the night prostrating and standing in devotion to their Lord” [25:64]. Praying in the night reflects a special relationship with God. It is a distinguishing characteristic of those who are in an elevated state of faith. Almighty God asks us in another verse… [Read more]

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The Night Prayer in Ramadan [Downloadable E-book]

A most rewarding and fulfilling part of a Muslim’s worship are those blessed moments that he spends praying in the depth of the night, privately addressing his Great Lord, sincerely glorifying Him, humbly imploring Him – beseeching His forgiveness and asking Him for favors. The voluntary “night prayer”, or qiyaam, is indispensable for a person’s moral, spiritual, and physical welfare. Yet, it is greatly misunderstood and largely neglected by most Muslims. The book by the muhadith of the century Imam Albani (rahimahu Allah) lays light on the virtues and importance of the night prayer… [Download here]

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If you’re aware of any other great resources (articles, books, lectures) on qiyam, please share them in a comment below.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala bless everyone here with witnessing Laylat al-Qadr. May He bless us with the sweetness of performing qiyam and humbling ourselves before Him, and may He forgive our sins, grant us His afw’, and free us from the fire. Ameen.

With the last ten days coming up, naturally, some of our sisters won’t be able to pray or fast. A lot of us face this realization with sadness and disappointment… but it’s important to remember that this is what Allah chose for us. It doesn’t mean we have to miss out on the spirituality of these days, and it doesn’t mean we have to miss out on Laylat al-Qadr. In fact, we should be motivated by the fact that we can’t pray or fast and put in an extra effort to worship Allah in other ways. With a sincere heart, we can, bi’ithnAllah, reach the ranks of those who are fasting and praying.

So read up, and don’t miss out on the rewards and blessings of this month:

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Du’aa in Ramadan

Engaging in heart-felt du’aa is one of the best ways to stay connected to Allah. If you haven’t already, check out this lecture series to learn about the best ways and times to make du’aa.  [Listen here]

Also, don’t forget that the best act of worship for these last ten days is du’aa! And that best of that du’aa is an easy and beautiful phrase taught to Aisha radiya Allahu anha by the Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wassalam. If nothing else, these two articles are must-reads:

The Best Worship To Do on the Best Night

Al-’Afuww: Who Forgives In the Last 10 Nights?

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Small Words, Big Reward

Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah! Refer to this list of simple words that come with a big reward, bi’ithnAllah. Some simple, easy phrases and words everyone can take advantage of.  Say them on the nights of Ramadan for multiplied reward, especially if it lands on the night that is greater than a thousand months.

With the last 10 days of Ramadan here, every passing moment grows more and more precious. Make every moment worth it. Here are some phrases to help you take advantage of your time, and to help you build your homes in Jannah,  insha’Allah… [Read more]

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Closed Doors and Opened Eyes

Ramadan is a blessed time of year often characterized by certain specific forms of worship. Fasting, reading Qur’an and performing salah (five times a day prayer) are the main focus of many people’s time and energy during this month. However, for most women a portion ofRamadan – or in some cases the month in its entirety – passes by without being able to engage in these acts due namely to menstruation or postnatal bleeding. Often this leads us to feeling disconnected from the sacredness and specialness of Ramadan and feeling deprived of that spiritual rejuvenation and increase iniman (faith) many believers experience in these days… [Read more]

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Last 10 Nights and the Big “M”

The last ten nights of Ramadan are upon us and I am sure all of us are aware of the virtues of these blessed nights. [...] During this time, we are constantly reminded to engage in nafl salaat comprising of long standing at night and increase our recitation of the Quran. But for some of us, this might be a time when we are going through our menstrual cycle (or post-natal bleeding). Naturally, it is not easy to stay positive at times, especially when we see the world around us rushing to masajids for taraweeh prayers, indulging in ‘itikaaf and reciting the Quran. This might lead us to feeling deprived of the reward of these blessed nights and decrease our spirituality rather than increasing it… [Read more]

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And as a small after-note: please don’t forget this website and it’s staff in your du’aa during this month.

My hijab story is like a secret diary no one should ever read. It is filled with horrible facts about me and points to my mistakes and weaknesses. My journey to hijab is filled with fear, negativity and regret. So I warn you: read with caution.

The most important thing you should know is that I used to wear hijab, but eventually took it off. I hate saying it, admitting to the world that I was one of those ignorant girls who went backwards after putting on the hijab, instead of moving forward with my deen. But it’s what I did and I can’t change that.

I first put on the hijab due to an extreme iman rush after an Islamic conference and pressure I felt from my community members, because, masha’Allah, almost all the girls I knew already wore hijab and were so religious. I always felt like an outcast not wearing it, so I decided to just do it.

After putting on the scarf, however, I was extremely self-cautious. I would feel fine wearing it when I was around my religious friends; but, when I was with other “normal” people, I was ashamed. I tried to cover while still blending in: wearing hoods and hats to cover my hair, instead of proper hijab. I didn’t understand that “hijab” was true modesty, not only in dress, but in actions as well. I treated the hijab simply as a cloth on my head.

During that period, I regretted the day I decided to wear the hijab and every bone in my body screamed at me to take it off, but I was afraid of what people would think of me. So I continued my self-loathing and wore the scarf. I felt horrible because I knew I wasn’t getting reward from Allah ta’ala. After all, I only kept on my hijab from fear of people’s judgment, rather than fulfilling the command of my Lord.

The regret continued and became stronger each day. I woke up miserable, knowing I had to put on my hijab. I hated going out, especially with my husband, because I felt that every other girl looked beautiful to him except me. His consolation only made it worse. I didn’t believe him when he said I looked beautiful, because I felt ugly, inside and out. I was always irritated and fighting with everyone around me.

After two years of my ongoing battle with the hijab, my nafs finally won, leaving my iman scattered to pieces. I shed the command of my Judge. I couldn’t handle it anymore. But taking off my scarf didn’t give me the relief I was looking for. I still had regret. Sure, I was happier sometimes because I got to do my hair, but I felt really bad and disappointed in myself. This time, when I was around my religious friends, I felt ashamed. I felt like I was less than them. I knew I wasn’t happy before, but at least I had been following Allah’s command. Now, I still had regret and I was disobeying. It was a lose-lose situation.

I tried to console myself whenever the regret kicked in, telling myself that at least I was a good person that prayed, fasted and dressed modestly. But I always knew in the back of my mind that I was disobeying Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, every second of everyday that I was in front of non-mahrams. My biggest fear was dying without wearing the hijab.

A year and half after taking off the hijab, I went to hajj with my husband, alhamdulillah. It was quite the experience, but I did not cover when I came back home. SubhanAllah! Now the guilt was doubled. Everyone was calling me “Hajji,” but I felt like a big fraud, a failure. While I was discussing hajj with a few people, someone said, “A sign that your hajj has been accepted is if you change after completing it.”

I immediately felt foolish. I knew I hadn’t changed all that much even though my reoccurring du’aa at hajj was that I would wear the hijab. This statement slowly brought about the change I needed. At that point, I knew I had to wear hijab again. I had to make a difference in my life and gain Allah’s ta’ala’s love.

I thought about putting on the hijab everyday after that. Every morning I would wake up and say to myself, “Today is the day…” but it never was. I walked around everyday with a smile on my face, even though I was constantly in battle with my nafs.

Why am I so weak? How come everyone I know can wear it, but not me? How is it possible that everyone just loves hijab and I despise wearing it?

I realized that I didn’t simply hate the hijab, I was afraid of it, afraid of what it could turn me into: a self-loathing, low self-esteem introverted human being.  I felt like my iman was so much higher when I wasn’t wearing hijab than when I was. The fear of wearing hijab was so strong, that even truly wanting to wear it wasn’t enough to make me put it on.

I tried to increase my iman as much as I could, so that I would have the courage to cover myself, as my Lord has prescribed.  My sister-in-law visited me from Atlanta and took that opportunity to speak to me about death and the last days. She told me that she used to be afraid of death because, like me, she didn’t want to die hijab-less. Once she put on the hijab however, she said that her fear of dying had decreased immensely. She helped me realize that my fear of hijab was miniscule compared to my fear of the Day of Judgment, when I would be asked about my deeds.

What would I say when I was questioned about the hijab?  ”I didn’t want to look ugly”? I feel the inadequacy of saying it to myself, so how could I possibly face my Creator and say that to Him?

In hopes of continuing to increase my iman, I listened to the Hereafter Series by Imam Al-Awlaki. Something he said really hit a nerve with me, alhamdulillah. He said that the Day of Judgment is 50,000 years long and that’s not even including the rest of the akhira – that’s just that one day. Meanwhile, we live on this earth for maybe a hundred years, if we are blessed with a very long life. And on the Day of Judgment these hundred years will seem like they were fifteen minutes long, if that. Will it be worth it, at that point, that I got to show my hair off to strangers and feel “pretty” for fifteen minutes? Of course not!

My fear of hijab was slowly starting to diminish, with the help of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Soon after, I was truly inspired by a close friend of mine who decided to wear the hijab. I was so happy to see her at my door, proudly wearing her white and black hijab. I was shocked and a part of me, a huge part, felt guilty, because there she was covered and modest, meanwhile I didn’t even wear hijab. My shock was not due to her lack of iman or anything; I know her as a very good Muslimah, masha’Allah, and may Allah make her even better than what others assume of her. Rather, it was because of her family, who was very against hijab. But against all odds and by the will of Allah, she chose to wear the hijab anyway. She put Allah ta’ala’s command first, disregarding what her own family would think and how they would react. I was overwhelmed by her strength, proud of her courage and jealous of her commitment and iman. She truly inspired me and made me feel the guilt of disobeying Allah’s command without saying a single word.

That was the last straw. Alhamdulillah, I decided to wear the hijab a few days later. This time, I felt so strong and ready to face the challenges that would confront me.  I knew it wouldn’t be easy, and I certainly wasn’t looking forward to the hard times; but I knew that earning Allah’s wrath just to show off my hair was not only foolish, but also utterly insane.

It has been three months since I put on the hijab and by the mercy of Allah, I plan to keep it on. Hijab is a choice I make everyday, every time I step out of my house or meet a non-mahram. By the will of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, I hope to make the right choice everyday, for the rest of my life, and look forward to reaping the benefits in the akhirah.

Image credit: Chiot’s Run

I sat beside her, looking at my off patterned socks as I spoke. “You’re my hero,” I whispered. My words echoed in the hollow room. “Thanks sweetheart,” was her earnest and loving reply.

Classically, a hero is the archetype of courage, and is someone who knows that battles are won with the heart. It is said that a hero is someone who is selfless. When I was a little girl I had a string of heroes and heroines. There were times when I dreamed I was part of a clan of mutants called the X-Men, that I could be like the coolest kid in second grade, and that I could be a heroic dreamer like Ronald Dahl’s protagonist in one of my favorite novels, James and the Giant Peach.

As I grew, my aspirations changed and so did my heroes. My dreams and life evolved and my heroes shifted more from imagined characters to real people. Real people who had impacted my life in some way and today I call them my real heroes.

My journey to donning the hijab is not only a personal triumph but also a celebration of my hero. It’s a day that I look back fondly on because my hero was there with me every step of the way.  She provided words of encouragement and showered me with love. She had bought me my first hijab and was there to calm my fears as I wore it for the first time.

My hero was the one who always reminded me of my intentions to please my Lord. She was the epitome of a superhero and had the power of washing away my anxiety with a simple smile. She wore that superhero cape of hijab with such pride and conviction that it radiated to all those around her. She was a hero in her own right, and I no longer wished to be like the heroes of my childhood. I wanted to be her sidekick and a newfound hero to others. Looking back now, I realize how truly blessed I was (and still am) alhamdulillah, to have had a hijab hero who helped me realize a dream.

With the passing days of Ramadan, it’s time for a renewal, my dearest sisters. Let’s take this opportunity to thank and make dua’ for our hijab heroes.  It is in this month and beyond that we ourselves must become a hero in another’s life. It is our duty to pay it forward. Just as Benjamin Disraeli once said, “Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes the heroes.”

We have to go into the world and be that hijab hero. We have to be it for our sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts, and for each other. We need to be that smile of encouragement and that shoulder to lean on. We need to be that unwavering support for a sister striving to wear the hijab today and a grateful well-wisher for a sister who has been wearing it circa twenty years.

Just as Abdullah ibn Mubarak (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “How often it is that a small action becomes great by its intention, and how often it is that a great action becomes small by its intention.” It is the ordinarily heroic things that we do that can change someone’s life. Thus, we have to do it for our ummah, for our hijab heroes and, most importantly, for our Lord.

As for my hijab hero, this piece is dedicated to her inshaAllah. I love you, Mom.

Some years ago, I was sitting with a friend of mine and she started telling me about her struggles with hijab after becoming Muslim. She had grown up Christian and accepted Islam while she was in college.

“For me, hijab was the hardest thing,” she said. “I just didn’t want to wear it. So I made every excuse I could. ‘It’s too hot.’ ‘I can’t breathe’.” She shook her head, remembering. “But the funny thing is, I didn’t realize I didn’t want to cover.

“Until one day I was talking to some sisters and I was making the same excuses. And the sisters started trying to convince me, but for everything they said, I had an answer. And we kept going back and forth. But then a sister said something that I really couldn’t respond to.” She paused. “‘Just makedu’aa. Pray that Allah makes it easy for you’.”

Her eyes grew distant, reflecting. “When she said that, I didn’t know what to say. In the back of my mind, I knew that if I asked Allah for help, I would wear hijab. And that’s when I knew I didn’t really want to cover.  I didn’t even ask Allah to help me. Because I didn’t want Him to.”

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When I hear stories like these, I think of the depths of the human heart. I think of how we think we know ourselves and our intentions. But, really, we don’t.

For almost every one of us, there’s something we know we need to change but simply won’t. The issue may involve not wearing hijab, not praying regularly, watching inappropriate TV and movies, intermingling, having “boyfriends” or “girlfriends”… And for each, we have a convenient excuse, if we bother to make excuses at all.

But in Ramadan, a lot of unpleasant things come to surface because the devils are chained and the depths of our hearts are exposed.

Yet most of us still manage to wriggle out of obedience to Allah, and the excuses abound…

There’s no point in wearing hijab in Ramadan if I know I’m just going to take it off later…

I don’t want to be a hypocrite…

I know myself, and I’m not ready to change my life…

But in each excuse, there’s one key component that’s missing.

Allah.

I don’t mean His name is absent. For most of us, it’s actually Allah’s name we use to justify our wrong.

Allah is Forgiving. Allah knows my heart. Allah’s my judge…

Or our favorite…

When I change, I’ll do it for Allah, not because people asked me to…

Yet Allah says, “And make not Allah’s (name) an excuse in your oaths against doing good, or acting rightly…” (2:224).

When we’re not blaming Allah for our sins, we’re blaming our natural human weakness. And it’s true; humans are weak. But the truth is that this isn’t our chief shortcoming.

But human weakness is the chief shortcoming for those with high emaan.

Those with low emaan have as their chief shortcoming a diseased heart.

The strong believers constantly strive to do what’s right, but because of human weakness, they inevitably fall short. But their energy is spent striving against sin, not giving in to it.

The weakest believers don’t even bother striving; they’re quite comfortable in their life of sin. Their energy is spent defending their sin, not fighting against it.

…I don’t want forgiveness. I don’t want to change. I like the wrong I’m doing…

This is what it really boils down to. Otherwise, we’d just make du’aa, and pray that Allah makes it easy for us to do what’s right, even if we fall short at times.

But it starts with wanting change. And that’s not an easy thing for the human heart, especially for those of us content with our low emaan and life of sin.

Yet…

All will be forgiven during the month of Ramadan, except those who do not want to be forgiven.

And who does not want to be forgiven?

Those who do not ask.

The month of Ramadan is, more than anything, a month of opportunity. It’s a time to set right things that are wrong. It’s a time to change course, even as you’ve no idea how you’ll walk that new path. It’s a time to ask for change, to beg for change, to cry for it—even if part of you doesn’t even want it.

And it’s okay if you have no idea how you’ll manage wearing hijab, praying regularly, shutting off that TV, or leaving alone those “cute” girls or guys.

It’s okay, because it’s not you you’re turning to for help.

It’s Allah.

And Allah is able to do all things.

Let us remember, too, that Allah is All-Forgiving. But, of course, to benefit from Allah’s Forgiveness, we first have to want it. And wanting forgiveness isn’t just saying we want it, or just uttering a prayer. It means we regret our sin. It means we hate our sin. And it means we take every step to avoid it.

And we never give up fighting against it.

That’s what it means to want Allah’s forgiveness.

That’s what it means to ask for it.

So it is upon each of us to closely examine our lives—and hearts—and ask ourselves a simple question.

Do you want forgiveness?

If our answer is yes, we know Who to turn to for help and guidance.

If our answer is no… well, there’s nothing for us to do except what we’ve always been doing.

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Umm Zakiyyah is the internationally acclaimed author of the novels of the If I Should Speak trilogy and Realities of Submission. For the latest titles by Umm Zakiyyah, join her Facebook page.

This piece, titled “But I Don’t Want Forgiveness,” is copyright © 2010 by Al-Walaa Publications, All Rights Reserved. It was published earlier on Saudi Life, and is republished here with permission from the author.

“The month of Ramadan to the other months is like Yusuf to his brothers. So, just like Yusuf was the most beloved son to Ya’qub, Ramadan is the most beloved month to Allah.

A nice point for the nation of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) to ponder over is that if Yusuf had the mercy and compassion to say {“There is no reproach for you today…”} [Yusuf; 92], Ramadan is the month of mercy, blessing, goodness, salvation from the Fire, and Forgiveness from the King that exceeds that of all the other months and what can be gained from their days and nights.

Another nice point to think about is that Yusuf’s brothers came to rely on him to fix their mistakes after all those they had made. So, he met them with kindness and helped them out, and he fed them while they were hungry and allowed them to return, and he told his servants: “Carry their belongings with you so that they don’t lose them.” So, one person filled the gaps of eleven others, and the month of Ramadan is likewise one month that fills the gaps of our actions over the other eleven months. Imagine the gaps and shortcoming and deficiency we have in obeying Allah!

We hope that in Ramadan, we are able to make up for our shortcomings in the other months, to rectify our mistakes, and to cap it off with happiness and firmness on the Rope of the Forgiving King.

Another point is that Ya’qub had eleven sons who were living with him and whose actions he would see at all times, and his eyesight did not return because of any of their clothing. Instead, it returned due to Yusuf’s shirt. His eyesight came back strong, and he himself became strong after he was weak, and seeing after he was blind. Likewise, if the sinner smells the scents of Ramadan, sits with those who remind him of Allah, recites the Qur’an, befriends on the condition of Islam and faith, and avoids backbiting and vain talk, he will (by Allah’s Will) become forgiven after he was a sinner, he will become close after he was far, he will be able to see with his heart after it was blind, his presence will be met with happiness after it was met with repulsion, he will be met with mercy after he was met with disdain, he will be provided for without limit or effort on his part, he will be guided for his entire life, he will have his soul dragged out with ease and smoothness when he dies, he will be blessed with Forgiveness when he meets Allah, and he will be granted the best levels in the Gardens of Paradise.

So, by Allah, take advantage of this greatness during these few days and you will soon see abundant blessing, high levels of reward, and a very long period of rest and relaxation by the Will of Allah.

By Allah, this is the true relaxation…”

['Bustan al-Wa'idhin wa Riyad as-Sami'in'; p. 213-214]

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Reposted from the Milestones on the Road to Firmness in Faith blog. May Allah reward the translator and elevate his ranks in this world and the next.

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صِبْغَةَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ صِبْغَةً ۖ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ عَابِدُونَ

“(And say, ‘Ours is) the sibgha (religion) of Allah. And who is better than Allah in sibgha (i.e ordaining religion)? And we are worshippers of Him’” [Surat al-Baqarah, 2:138].

The root of the word sibgha / صِبْغَةَ (translated in the ayah as “religion) is s-b-gh / ص ب غ.

The words sibgha indicates color, and in particular, dye. A dye is a color that is not the original color of something. Primarily it refers to a color that is colored onto something, thus it’s used for an attribute that has been adopted. The use of this word in the ayah holds very powerful connotations.

Sibghah in this ayah refers to the religion of Allah. When we adopt a religion, it is reflected in our lives, just as if there is a dye on our clothes – the color is visible, people see it. Thus, when we adopt the religion of Allah, it should be expressed through our speech, our lifestyle, our dress, and everything we say or do.

One: Imagine the Reward

If we want to make the most of Ramadan, then we have to begin by imagining its reward.

A businessman who’s given a choice between two types of equally-selling merchandise, one that brings in a ten dollar return and one that brings in a hundred dollar return, won’t think twice about picking the latter. And if he’s given a choice between merchandise that brings in a hundred dollars and merchandise that brings in a thousand dollars, he won’t even blink before picking the thousand dollar profit. The more profitable the return, the more eager he will be to take it.

Shouldn’t the same apply to us as believers in Ramadan? We know the weight Allah has given this blessed month; we know the multiplied rewards available, and the opportunities for forgiveness. So shouldn’t we value every day, every hour, every minute, every second of this month?

People who seek their reward day by day might slack off for a day or two because they look at the day as their unit. People who seek their reward by the hour might slack off a few hours, but letting go of entire days is difficult because they realize how many hours fit into each day. People who seek their reward by the minute might take off a few minutes, but they realize how much each hour is worth, so it’s hard to let an hour go by without utilizing it. And people who seek their reward by the second will hate to slack off for even a second, because they realize how every instant is precious, how every instant can bring them reward.

So spend some time thinking about the vast amount of reward available to you during this month. Do you know the types of ajer that are waiting for you during Ramadan? Do you recognize this chance you’ve been given to have all of your previous sins forgiven? Aren’t you anxious for the reward of a night which Allah has said is better than a thousand months?

Imagine the reward, and don’t waste this chance, not even a second of it.

[Roughly translated and adapted from the words of Sheikh Ahmed Abu Seif.]

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Two: Learn it’s Virtues

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Three: Resources to Help you Prepare

If you’re still in need of inspiration or help preparing for Ramadan, here are some important resources:

Recharge Your Faith | Free E-Book | An important (easy to download, easy to read) e-book for planning and making the most of your Ramadan.

Heart Wheel Journal | Free Download | Use this journal to keep track of yourself – your heart and your progress – during the month.

Productive Ramadan | Website | Read up on this website for tips and information on how to stay productive during Ramadan.

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