Keeping in mind that Ramadan was not just a month of fasting, but also a month that emphasized charity, forbearance and compassion. Ramadan allowed us to refine our internal and external behavior. Here are some practical and easy ways to continue that spiritual growth we felt:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-20339-San-Jose-Muslim-Examiner~y2009m9d22-Keeping-the-spirit-of-Ramadan-alive-throughout-the-year

As salamu ‘alaykum Dear Readers.

With the emergence of Ramadan, we would like to wish all of our readers and friends a blessed month of fasting. We hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive us for our shortcomings and flaws. We would really appreciate if you could keep us in your prayers.

Please consider registering for the Jewels of Ramadan webinar with Shaykh Abdullah Ali on August 29, 2009: http://bit.ly/jewelsrmdn Click the link to listen to an exclusive audio clip and info on how to receive a free MP3 download.

And some gems from the IslamCrunch archives:
Ramadan Letter Part 1
Ramadan Letter Part 2

The Examiner has recently added a San Jose Muslim Examiner to their team of writers. Here is the first article: Practical tips for fasting in Ramadan

The article has already received several comments including from our beloved Shaykh Faraz Rabbani of Seekers Guidance.

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So, my dear friend, put forth a great effort in the month of Rajab, may Allah have mercy on you. It is the season of great profits, so take advantage of your time! Whoever is spiritually sick due to their sins – know that the medicine has come.

* Know that Rajab is a virtuous month in which worship is gloriously rewarded – especially fasting and seeking repentance (istighfar).

* Also, making du’a during the eve of the first of Rajab is highly recommended. The Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, said, “There are five nights in which du’a (supplication) is not rejected: the eve of Rajab, the 15th night of Sha’aban, the eve of Friday, on the eve of Eid Al-Fitr, and on the eve of Eid Al-Adha.” [Al-Suyuti in his Al-Jami'].

* On the 27th night of Rajab, the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, was taken on the Isra wa Mi’raj (The Night Journey and Ascension to the Heavens). This was a great and glorious night, as is known to most Muslims, in which the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, met his Lord and was given the commandment to perform the 5 daily prayers.

* Rajab is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Quran (the four months are : Rajab, Dhul Qi’da, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram):

{The number of months is twelve according to God, in the decree of God, on the day God created the heavens and the earth; and four of them are sacred} (9:36)

* Rajab is Allah’s month in which He pours His Mercy upon the penitent and He accepts the actions that people have done for His sake. The Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, said, “Rajab is the month of Allah, and Sha’aban is my month, and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah.” (Imam Al-Suyuti in Al-Jami).

* Scholars say: Rajab is the month of repentance (istighfar), and Sha’aban is the month of sending peace and mercy (salawat/durood shareef) upon the Prophet, and Ramadan is the month of Qur’an.

* One highly recommended act to do is say 70 times after the Fajr and ‘Isha prayers every morning and night of Rajab:

Transliteration: “Allahuma ighfir li wa Arhamni wa tub ‘alayya.”
Translation: Oh Allah forgive me, have mercy upon me, and grant me repentance.

* Sayyidna ‘Ali, may Allah be well pleased with him, used to allocate extra amounts of time for worship on four nights – the first night of Rajab, the nights before the two Eids, and the 15th night of Sha’aban.

* It is also highly recommended to say the following Prophetic prayer (known as Sayyid Al-Istighfar or the Master of Repentance) 3 times every morning and every evening in Rajab:

Transliteration: Allahuma anta rabi la ilaha illa ant, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduk, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa’adika ma astata’at, ‘authu bika min shar ma san’at, abu’u laka bi ni’matika ‘allaya wa abu’u bi dhanbi, faqhfir li fa’innahu la yaghfir al-dhunub ila anta.

Translation: O Allah, you are my Lord, and there is no god but you. You created me and I am your servant, and I am upon the convenant to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in you from the evil I have brought upon myself. I admit all the blessings you have given me and I admit my sins, so forgive me, for no one can forgive sins save You.

And success is from Allah

Posted via email from IslamCrunch

Our gratitude to Sidi Amjad Tarsin for compiling this post and all the other posts about the Islamic months.

All praise is due to Allah, and may endless blessings be upon His Beloved Messenger Muhammad, his Kin, and his Companions.

These are excerpts taken from the book “Kenz Al-Najah wa As-Suroor” (The Treasures of Success and Happiness) regarding the benefits and special qualities of each month and how one should take advantage of them.

Please verify when the month of Dhul Hijjah will begin. One recommended website is http://www.crescentwatch.org/

Know that Dhul Hijjah is a great and sacred month in which the Holy Pilgrimage takes place. It is a month in which blessings are plentiful, du’as are answered, and Allah takes care of people’s needs. In it are the “ten nights” which Allah swears by in the Qur’an: {By the daybreak and ten nights}. The majority of Tafsir scholars have stated that Allah is referring here to the ten nights of Dhul Hijjah.

Some scholars state that there are 3 groups of 10 days/nights which are the most preferred by Allah: the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, the first 10 days of Muharram, and the last 10 nights of Ramadan. According to some scholars, the best group amongst the 3 are the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah because in them are the days of ‘Arafah and ‘Eid. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him stated, “There are no days more preferred by Allah than the ten days of Dhul Hijjah; and there are no nights more preferred than its nights.”

Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased them both, said, “There are no days more preferred by Allah the Exalted than these ten days, so make plenty of tahlil (saying “La ilaha illa Allah”) and takbir (saying “Allahu Akbar”), for these are days of tahlil and takbir and remembrance of Allah, Mighty and Glorious is He.”

• It is also highly recommended to fast the first nine days, especially the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah (the Day of ‘Arafah).

Things to do:

• Fast the first nine days:

  Our Beloved Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said, “One fast during these days is equal to the fasting of one complete year, and the worship of one night during this period is equal to worship during Laylat al-Qadr.” [Tirmidhi]

• The 9th Day:

  It is particularly important to fast the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah (known as the Day of ‘Arafah).The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I have hope in Allah the Exalted that the fast of Arafah will be an atonement for the sins of the past and the forthcoming year.” [Tirmidhi]

• La ilaha Illa Allah:

  The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whosoever says during the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah this supplication 10 times each day:

  La ilaha illa Allah ‘adad ad-duhoor, la illaha illa Allah ‘adad amwaj al-buhoor, la illaha illa Allah ‘adad al nabat wa al-shajar, la illaha illa Allah ‘adad al-qatri wa al-matar, la illaha illa Allah ‘adad lamh al-’uyoon, la illaha illa Allah khairun min ma yajma’oon, la illaha illa Allah min youmina hadha ila youmi yunfakhu fi al-sur – all of his future and past sins will be forgiven.” [Tabarani]

The Day of Arafah:

• It is very beneficial to repeatedly say: “La illaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharik la, lahu al-mulk wa lahu al-hamd, wa Huwa ‘ala kul shayy’in Qadir.” This is related in many ahadith.
• Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Whosoever reads Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad (Chapter 112 of the Quran) 1,000 times on the Day of ‘Arafah will be given whatever he/she asks for.”
• The best thing to occupy oneself with during this day is du’a. Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari, may Allah be pleased with him, “They are days in which du’a is not turned back. How would du’a be turned back during these days when the Day of ‘Arafah is amongst them, which was narrated as being the best day in the world?” [Ibn Hibban in his Sahih collection]

May Allah give us the success to benefit from these blessed days. Just consider how seriously you take things during the last 10 nights of Ramadan and try to exert a similar effort to these days. {And I only created jinn and humans for them to worship Me}. This is what we were made for and Allah gives us times like these so that we can excel great distances in a short time. Don’t let it pass you by. The glorious treasures of your Lord are there for the taking, you just have to expose yourself to His Grace.

NOTE: In order to be concise, the exact strength of certain hadiths have not been mentioned. It is agreed upon by the vast majority of scholars to use hadiths of various levels of authenticity to encourage people to do extra acts of worship and goodness.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was written by our friend: Sidi Amjad Tarsin.