Saudi Arabia, August 23: 1 Take a vacation for Allah
We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator. If this is not possible, at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing Itikaf.
2I’tikaf
It was a practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to spend the last 10 days and nights of Ramadan in the mosque for I’tikaf. Those in I’tikaf stay in the mosque all this time, performing various forms of zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing optional Salat, recitation and study of the Holy Quran and engage in Quranic discourses. They A not go outside the mosque except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the mosque. Their families or the mosque administration takes care of their food needs. I’tikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.
3Make this special d’ua
Aisha, (may Allah be pleased with her), said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?’ He said: ‘Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.’ “(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi). The transliteration of this Dua is: “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee”.
4Give, give, give
Good deeds are normally rewarded tenfold, in Ramadan, this is multiplied by seventy or more. What better time to make an investment in the “real bank account” that will benefit. No investment on this Earth will ever give such returns. Make time to give Zakat, Sadqah, Lillah all for the sake of Allah. Giving also means giving your time. Spend time with people you love and also the people who you “don’t get along with”. Who knows you may find something good about them.
5Recite the Holy Quran
Perhaps, you can choose Surahs or passages from the Holy Quran, which you have heard in Tarawih this Ramadan to recite. If you attend a class where the recitation of the Holy Quran is taught, this is a great time to put your knowledge into practice.
6Reflect on the meaning
of the Holy Quran
Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you’ve heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level.
7Make a personal du’a list
Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things:
• Ask Allah to give you those things;
• Think about what actions you have taken to get those things;
• Develop a work plan to get those things
in future.
8Get your sins wiped out
Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger (PBUH) said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. (Bukhari and Muslim). Don’t just pray using the shorter Surahs that you know. Try to make your prayers longer, deeper and meaningful. If you are familiar with longer Surahs, read the translation and explanation and then pray reciting these Surahs, carefully reflecting on the meaning while you pray. Even if you are only familiar with the shorter Surahs, read the translation and explanation beforehand, and then pray reflecting on the message of the Surahs. This is a good way to develop the habit of concentration, even in regular prayers, where many of us tend to be fidgety and/or easily distracted.
9Evaluate yourself
Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah’s sincere forgiveness when making the du’a mentioned in tip number one above.
10Make long, sincere
and deep du’as
One of the best times to do this is during the last part of the night. Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet (PBUH) said: When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One descends towards the heaven of the earth and proclaims: Who is that who supplicates for Me, and I grant his supplication? Who is that who begs Me for anything and I grant it to him? And who is that who seeks My forgiveness, and I forgive him? (Bukhari, Muslim).
That means for instance, waking up one hour before Suhoor time to ask Allah for anything and everything you want that is Halal. This can be done using the du’as of the Sunnah, but also du’as in your own language, with sincerity and conviction.
–Agencies