Dear Muslims,
We are still living the blessed month of Ramadan. The month of fasting, the
month of staying up praying, the month of the Quran, the month of grace, and
treasures, blessings. A generous month filled to the rim with mercy,
forgiveness and saving from the hell fire.
Allah says commanding
his slaves to fast: {You believers, it has been written upon you to fast
just as was written upon those before you, so you may fear} (2-183). The
Prophet (PPBU) giving good tidings and good news to his companions by saying
((The month of Ramadan has approached you, a blessed month, Allah has
written fasting upon to you. In this month the doors of Paradise are open
and the doors of hell are closed. Satins are chained. During this month
there is a night which is more worthy than a thousand months. This who
misses its’ befits, has really missed.)).
Dear Muslims, a Muslim
ought to take opportunity of a month having such properties and preferences
by utilizing his/her time in obeying Allah with assortment of worships and
acts of obedience, such as: fasting, night prayers, Quran reciting,
supplication (Duaa), asking for forgiveness, praising and glorifying Allah,
being thankful to Allah. All that is done with the aim of seeking to satisfy
Allah and gain His forgiveness.
Slaves of Allah, bear
in mind that causes of forgiveness during the month of Ramadan are numerous,
and they are summarized as follows:
First: The first cause
of sins forgiveness during the month of Ramadan is actually being alive in
Ramadan, or making it to Ramadan alive. The prophet (PPBH) was reported
saying: ((The five prayers and a Friday to a Friday and a Ramadan to a
Ramadan are cleansers to what happens between each of them of sins. Provided
the major forbidden acts are avoided)). Allah be praised…, how great is
this? Daily reasons to obtain forgiveness just by doing the five prayers.
Yes, why not when the prophet said ((can you envisage if someone had a river
flowing by the door of his/her home, in which he/she bathes five times a
day. Would you say any of his dirt will still be left? They replied: “None
of the dirt will remain”. He said “That is just like the five prayers, Allah
uses them to wipe off sins”)). This is the first cause for forgiving sins
during Ramadan and other months too. But with one simple condition; for
which Allah makes it simple; It is the condition of avoiding the major
forbidden sins.
Let us keep up doing
our prayers and avoid all forbidden acts especially the major ones. That is
also verified by the prophet’s saying ((if a Muslim who is approached by the
time of a compulsory prayer, if he/she does a good wash (wado) and performs
the prayer in its deserved piety and good bowing, then this prayer becomes a
cleanser to sins proceeding it provided no major forbidden acts were
committed. And this goes on for ever. )) this was reported by Muslim.
It is the grace of
Allah that He made weekly causes to clear sins through the Friday (Jama3a)
prayer. The prophet said ((Anybody who did a wado and did it well, then he
came to a Friday (prayer) and listened to the Friday (Khutbah)
Then his sins
between the two Fridays are forgiven and three extra days)).
It is the grace of
Allah as well that he made annual causes to cleanse sins through the month
of Ramadan with the condition of avoidance major forbidden acts. How many
Ramadans and how many years went by passed us while we were unaware to
appreciate these great pieties. The first ten days of Ramadan are days of
mercy, the middle ten days are days of forgiveness and the last ten days are
pardoning and setting free from Hellfire.
Dear brothers, during
the month of Ramadan, the cause of forgiving sins is fasting. The prophet
said: ((He who fasts Ramadan in faith and expectation, then his/her earlier
sins are forgiven)). This who fasts while believing in Allah, and with
acceptance of the obligation of fasting, with conviction in expecting the
reward, not hating to fast, and not doubting the reward, Allah will forgive
his/her previous sins.
Dear brothers, during
the month of Ramadan, the cause of forgiving sins is staying up in prayers
on the Night of Qadr. The prophet said: ((He who witnesses the night of Qadr
(or stay it up in prayers) in faith and expectation, then his/her earlier
sins are forgiven)).
Allah Says: {You
believers it has been decreed upon you to fast just as the decree was
imposed up on those before you; so you may become God-fearing. A
specified number of days; but, this of you who is ill or is traveling,
[shall fast instead for the same] a number of other days; While those who
can withstand it then a charitable sacrifice of feeding a needy. While those
who volunteer doing more than they are bound; is better for them; and to
fast is even better for you if you just knew. The month of Ramadan in which
the Quran was brought down as guidance to man kind and a clear guidance and
a mean to differentiate the truth from the falsehood. Hence, whoever of you
lives to see this month shall fast throughout it; but he/she that is ill, or
on a journey, [shall fast instead for the same] number of other days. God
wills that you shall have ease, and does not will you to suffer hardship;
but [He desires] that you complete the number [of days required], and that
you glorify Allah for having guided you aright, and that you render your
thanks.}
May Allah make the
Quran and the Sunna (life) of the messenger blessings for us.
May we benefit from
the Koran's verses (Ayat) and the wisdom within it.
With this I ask
forgiveness of Allah the most merciful for me and you and all Muslims.
Brothers and sisters do ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to him.
Assalam Alaikum -
The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace
be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching
it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during
leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
Aya (or Ayah):
is a verse of the Koran.
It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
is a mountain
outside the city of Mecca
that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing
Hajj must stay at this location on the same
day.
Badr
- The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the
pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph
- A Muslim ruler. See:
(Khalifa)
Dajjal
- Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah
- The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din)
- Religion or way of life.
Duaa:
a prayer in the form of
talking to Allah;
praising him and asking him for help.
Fatwa
- Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are
the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose:
is the highest level of
the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh
- Religious law.
Hadeeth:
is something reported
that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave.
It is usually narrated or told by one
of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are
reported and checked to be genuine. No
more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar -
The Black Stone set into the corner of the
Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj -
The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in
the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas:
is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith
- The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his
followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is
the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or
Hejrah):
the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This
event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12
months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a
name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah -
Worship. All the words and deeds with which
Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese):
On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used
by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar
or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn
Omar.
Imam
(or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman:
belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) -
The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the
Christians.
Islam
- Submission, the religion of all the
prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah -
The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of
the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad:
is striving in the
line
of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving
oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection
of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the
fight one's self against temptations.
It also means "holy war."
Jinn
-
Supernatural, invisible beings race of
beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst
them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on
Judgment Day.
Ka'aba:
A cube shaped building in
Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say
Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by
Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage
in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa:
is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation:
"Successor".
Khutbah -
A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr -
Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for
anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran
- Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book
of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran
literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to
the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the
Arabian
peninsula
(in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to
immigrate to.
Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid -
A
center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah -
A
sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah:
is
the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous
black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim
house of worship.
Muhajir -
(Muhajireen)
Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It
was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median
and Ethiopia.
Muhammad -
the final messenger and
prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He
received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in
Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad
ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim
- One who holds faith to the religion of
Islam.
Nafilah:
a voluntary prayer other
than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara -
Christians. Nasrani:
A Christian individual. Nasraniah:
Christianity.
Ommah:
is the Arabic word for a
nation. It usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise -
Another word for heaven. A
garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and
imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels.
All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty
Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise
is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU
(P.B.U.H.) :
Peace and Prayers Be
Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the
messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar -
Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all
things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr):
The night when the first
revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the
last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to
the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and
few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the
holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla -
The direction which Muslims turn for daily
prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish -
An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger
Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan -
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which
is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat -
Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of
worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is
performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa:
A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion
leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants
of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who
ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk -
Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with
Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of
Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam-
Fasting
Sunni:
is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life
style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah):
Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he
dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought.
Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered
the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an
important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes.
It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all
Muslims.
Surah -
A
chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf:
part of the pilgrimage (Hajj)
ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise
direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed -
Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that
there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement
of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new
Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah -
Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person
to understand God.
Taurat: The old
Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah -
the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to
the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah):
A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to
Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic
year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual
done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor -
The
Psalms
Zakat -
The
third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
