[karachi-Friends] FW: Ramadhan Special Series --E-Magazine -4

5 ways to avoid Ramadan weight gain
Ramadan is a time in which we rejuvenate ourselves spiritually. The fast is a form of ibada that we do solely for the sake of Allah, seeking only his rewards and his pleasure. We must keep our intentions pure for this sake and this sake alone. We read articles on the physical benefits of fasting and we talk long winded about our "need" to fast for physical restoration. But the fast of Ramadan is not intended for this purpose. It is essential that we maintain its intent and purpose for indeed the Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasalam) said "he who fast with the intentions of pleasing Allah his reward is with his lord".

However on the practical side of fasting, every year we deviate from the sunnah and we suffer physically. It's often manifestation is weight gain, which then leads to tiredness which prevents us from staying awake for our late night ibada and thus the physical harm affects us spiritually and it comes full circle. Our intentions are not to make the fast a month of dieting but minimally make it a month in which we do not worsen our physical condition. The following are some practical tips on how to avoid the "notorious" Ramadan weight gain that many Muslim suffer from.

1. Eat protein in the morning

Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day. So much so that it is a Sunna. When eating zahur resist the erg to try to make up for the food you will be missing during the day. We are not whales, thus we do not have an extra stomach to hold food for later. Don't eat a stack of pancakes thinking if you eat 5 instead of your normal 3 you will be satisfied longer. Calories from carbohydrates (i.e. pancakes, grits, waffles, toast etc) are burned much faster than protein. Even though hunger during some part of the day is inevitable with fasting 13 hours days, you can delay when the hunger kicks in by having a healthy portion of protein with your suhoor. Having eggs with your pancakes or waffles or a protein shake with your oatmeal will have a better effect on your system than a pure carbohydrate meal.

2. Drink plenty of water when you break your fast

It is very easy to become dehydrated and not drink enough water during Ramadan. We spend most of our alert hours not drinking anything. When the Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasalam) could not find dates to break fast with he would break fast with water. Water is an essential part of a healthy diet even when you are fasting. Dehydration is often misinterpreted as hunger. When we are dehydrated when we break fast, then we have the hunger of the fast on top of the mistaken hunger of being dehydrated. Break your fast then drink 2 large glasses of water before you eat your iftar meal. Eat slowly, consciously and with intent to eat for nourishment not to satisfy your hunger and cravings.

3. Eat consciously

One of the joys of a fasting person is mentioned in the hadith when Allah says in hadith kudsi that a fasting person will have two joys, one when he breaks his fast and one when he meets his lord. There is very little that compares to having fasted all day then sitting in front of a nice spread with every dish you had been fantasizing about, everything from your favorite roasted lamb to cake and cookies. However there is very little that can compare to the amount of self-control we must have when faced with such a feast of the eyes and the palette. We must remember that we are hungry because we are Muslims and as Muslims we much keep the Sunnah in mind and in actions. Remember the advice of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasalam) was a one-third rule: One-third food, one-third drink and one-third air. When we sit and eat to our full at iftar we violate the sunnah and we violate our bodies. The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wasalam) said: "A Muslim should never loosen his waist wrapper due to over eating". Ramadan is a time in which we are trained in self-control. This self-control and discipline is not limited to the day. This training during the day extends to all parts of our lives and our behavior. And there is no better time to show the benefit of this training then sitting down to an iftar spread and NOT eating everything in sight,.

4. Limit sweets

Sweets are the indulgence of just about every culture during Ramadan. From the special Moroccan halwa, to African American cross cultural pies and cakes. Ramadan is the month that even the "cooking handicapped" practice their skills. We all have a tendency to justify the extra calories with the fact that we fasted most of the day. But the fact remains that it doesn't matter if you consume the calories throughout the day or all at iftar. A calorie is still a calorie and too many still adds up to stored fat. Okay it's unrealistic to say do not eat any sweets. In fact it's okay to enjoy the sweetness of your Muslim sister's cooking. But have a piece of cake AFTER you have eaten a balanced meal, drunk a large glass of water and prayed Magrib to give your digestive system time to settle and register the food you have eaten. If you still crave the sweets have a small serving then leave the rest for someone else to enjoy. Drinking the water will help fill your stomach and leave less room for over indulgence in sweets. And waiting after salat allows for the 15 to 20 minutes it takes for your stomach to communicate its fullness to your brain.

5. Avoid late night snacking

When we are up late night doing ibada we tend to take detours through the kitchen to "taste" all the things we won't be able to have during the day. Leave the night for ibada and you will benefit much more. But if you happen to leave your Qur'an in the kitchen and must go in there to get it, then grab a small portion of protein rich food instead of the extra piece of cake. Eating carbohydrate and sugar rich foods late at night increases the chance of those carbohydrates being stored as fat. Eating a "small" portion of protein will balance your insulin and leave you feeling fuller longer. May Allah Bless each reader to have a successful Ramadan.

 

http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Ways-to-Avoid-Ramadan-Weight-Gain&id=2787262

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10 great goals to set for this Ramadan

< السلآم عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته >
assalamu alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuhu
Eat, drink and be moderate

Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it's hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we're supposed to learn self-control not self-indulgence. Let's try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.

2.       Give a dollar a day in charity...or five or ten

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let's open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a dollar a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it's the intention that counts.

3.       Memorize 4 new Surahs

Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you've started, you'll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.

4.       Go to Tarawih prayers

Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan's blessings. Don't miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.

5.       Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished

Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran's recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.

6.       Stop swearing and/or backbiting â€" with a special box

It's hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone's upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn't the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we've got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.

Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment.

At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you've backbitten the most against.

7.       Call/email your relatives

You'd think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we'd keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life's "busyness."

Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.

8.       Go on a technology diet

Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.

9.       Read 5 minutes of Quran a day...just five, not more, not less

Even if you feel you've got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.

10.    Forgive everyone who has hurt you

Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Still upset about something your spouse said during a heated argument? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it's also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah's forgiveness, shouldn't we lesser beings forgive too?

If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people.

Allahumma ajalna minhum, ameen

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A night better than a thousand months
 

Anas (Radiallaho Anho) reports : "Once when Ramadhan began, the Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said:   "A month has verily come upon you, wherein lies a night better than a thousand months. Whoever misses such a night has indeed been deprived of all that is good and none is deprived of it, except he who is really unfortunate."   { Ibn-Majah }

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Are We Muslims Only in Ramadan? It is now time for us to re-evaluate our Eemaan. Question yourselves, and in process improve yourselves. We claim to be Muslims, we claim to believe in Allah Aza Wajal, but do we really believe in it with a firm heart, or is it just something we say? We claim to “believe” in the Unseen God, but we see the harmful effects of drinking, clubbing and smoking, yet we don’t avoid them. Ask yourselves that if we don’t even believe in what can be seen, do we really believe in the Unseen? Just “believing” in the existence of Allah Aza Wajal does not make us Muslims, Shaitaan also, by the way, “believes” in Allah Aza Wajal. We must act like Muslims also. We must also do in actions that what we say in words and that what we know in thoughts. We say we’re Muslims, but are we really? He is not a true Muslim whose hands and tongue are violent. Several of us stopped cursing and backbiting and lying during the month of Ramadan, but now what? when Ramadaan is over, should we return to those faults? Are we Muslims only in Ramadan??? Every Muslim is to pray 5 times a day, every day, no exceptions. Several of us did that very promptly during Ramadan. Now when Ramadan is over, now what? Should we give up those prayers just because Ramadan is over? Are we Muslims only in Ramadan??? We made duas because we understood that indeed it is Allah Aza Wajal who listens and grants. We sought forgiveness from Allah Aza Wajal because we realized our faults and felt guilty. We improved our conducts and lowered our voices and controlled our tempers because we realized that a Muslim is he whose actions represent peace and nobility. Now when Ramadan is over, will we go back to our same old self? Are we Muslims only in Ramadan??? We tried our best to close our ears to that which was not permissible to hear, we tried our best to stop our tongues at times when we were about to say something which we are not allowed to say, we tried our best to lower our gazes at sights which we are not allowed to see. Now when Ramadan is over, do those things become permissible to us? Are we Muslims only in Ramadan??? We refrained from going to clubs and watching movies and listening to songs during Ramadan because we realized these attributes do not represent Muslims. Now when Ramadan is over, should we return to our previous lifestyle? Are we Muslims only in Ramadan??? We were awake at nights, not spending time in clubs or with friends, but instead we were awake at nights to do ibaadat for the Will and Pleasure of Allah. Now when Ramadan is over, are we relieved of our responsibilities? Are we Muslims only in Ramadan??? We refrained from dawn to dusk, not only from the Haraam, but also the Halaal. The purpose of this abstinence was to create patience and virtue, and realize that if you want you can even stay away from the Halaal, so why can you not avoid the Haraam? Sure you can. You just need the will. Now when Ramadan is over, can we go back to eating, talking, watching, doing, and thinking Haraam? Are we Are we Muslims only in Ramadan?????? --

 

  Excellence of the Morning (Fajr) and 'Asr Prayers

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

 The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,
               "He who offers the dawn (Fajr) prayers will come under the Protection of Allah. O son of Adam! Beware, lest Allah should call you to account in any respect from (for withdrawing) His Protection.''
[Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,

          "He who The observes Al-Bardan (i.e., Fajr and `Asr prayers) will enter Jannah.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary from  Riyad-us-Saliheen:  It is a must for every Muslim to offer every Salat regularly but there are some prayers (Salat) which cannot be performed punctually unless one takes special care of them. This is the reason some additional merits have been mentioned in this Hadith so that people exercise extra effort for performing them. Of these two is the Fajr prayer, the performance of which is more difficult than the other prayers because it occurs at a time of rest and deep sleep. Similar is the case of `Asr prayer, the performance of which is difficult. Due to these reasons, special merits of these two prayers have been mentioned in this Hadith.

 

Regards,

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Hadith: Fasting and Evil actions....
 

Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim

 

Assalam-o-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu

  

From Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 31:

 

 Volume 3, Book 31, Number 127:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)"

 

Allah (swt) does not need our Ibadat. It is us who need them to better our lives.Fasting should lead us to  develop Taqwa ("God-Consciousness")Any Muslim having Taqwa will not commit wrong doings, unless it is out of forgetfulness or by mistake, especially while fasting. If someone is making "evil actions" while fasting, that person needs to question his belief in Allah (swt). Having Taqwa and fasting should lead all of us to leave our bad and `evil' actions.

May Allah (swt) guide us all. Ameen.

 

 

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Poor & Needy in Islam

 

Charity in Islam is more than merely giving money, food and clothing to the poor and needy. It is a great act of worship.

When a Muslim gives charity, his or her main reason is to please Allah and seek His reward. A true Muslim would never help the poor so that others can see what a good person he or she is.

By seeking Allah's pleasure, a Muslim is taking this act of charity beyond human recognition and humbling himself before Allah.

There are many aspects to alms-giving in Islam.

• Zakat – this is the compulsory charity that all Muslims must pay based on the wealth they possess at the time of payment. In Surah At-Tauba, verse 103 of the Quran, Allah says: "Take alms from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it." The minimum amount to pay is roughly two and a half per cent of the wealth you possess.
• In secret – it is better to give charity in secret because you can then be sure that your intention is solely for Allah's pleasure. Giving in public is fine as long as you do not do it to impress people. Abu Hureira reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that one of the seven types of people who are given shade on the Day of Judgment are those who give charity "so secretly that their left hand do not know what his right hand has given (nobody knows how much he has given in charity)."
• Clean money – charity should be given with money that is earned in a halal (permissible) manner, i.e. not involving gambling, alcohol etc.
• Rewards – if you sacrifice some of your wealth for the sake of Allah, you can be sure that Allah will multiply your reward, either in this world or in the afterlife.

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Who are you feeding this Ramadan?

 

For most of those who fast during the month of Ramadan, hunger and thirst are only temporary.  By sundown, fasting is usually broken with a feast fit for a king.

 

But for those living in poverty in places like Baghdad, Gaza, Mogadishu, and the American inner city, hunger and thirst can be a way of life—all day, every day.  Their suffering must not be ignored!

 

As you strive to worship Allah (swt) and seek His pleasure in this holy month, Life for Relief and Development wishes to offer you an opportunity to impact the lives of many through a single act of charity.  

 

Although it varies from country to country, food baskets usually carry things like dates, rice, flour, oil, fresh vegetables, canned meat, pasta, beans, etc.

 

Indeed, Allah's reward for feeding one fasting person during Ramadan is great.  By donating a food basket to a family in need, you will be feeding an average of 7 people, and not only one time, but every day for a whole month.  Imagine the rewards that can be earned from such a good deed! 

 

It only takes a couple of clicks on your computer, so please take the time to donate now.

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Some Ahadith:

 

"He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting person's rewards."

'Cure your sick people with Sadaqa (i.e. charity)!'

"Verily, charity appeases the wrath of Allah and eases the suffering of death."

"When a person dies, his actions come to an end except in respect to three things that he leaves behind: a continuous charity, beneficial knowledge that helps others, and righteous children who pray for him."

A'ishah reported: "Once a man said to the prophet  (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), 'My mother suddenly died, and I believe that, she lived longer, she would have given something is charity. Would she receive reward if I were to give charity on her behalf?' At that, the prophet S.A.S replied, "Yes! You should give something in charity on her behalf."

Quran says about the righteous:

"They give food, out of love for Him (Allah), to the poor, the orphan, and the slave, saying: We feed you only for Allah's pleasure - we desire from you neither reward nor thanks." (76:8-9)

'Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply it many times?' (2: 245).

'O ye who believe, spend from what you (lawfully) earned' (2: 267)

'By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely as a charity) from that which you love; and whatever you spend Allah knows it well.' (3: 92)

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I'TIKAF --"The Spiritual Retreat"   The Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) is reported to have said:  "The persons who secludes himself (in the Masjid in I'tikaf) in true faith and hope (for the reward of Allah), all of his previous sins shall be forgiven." (Kanzul Ummal, Hadith 24007)  The meaning of Itikaf is to seclude oneself in the Masjid  with the express niyyah (intention) of Itikaf. Allah has indeed in his perfect wisdom created humanity in a unique way. He has made it such that from time to time His creation needs a rest. We rest at night to give our bodies time to recover. Birds retire to their nests, horses to their stables, bees to their hives etc. However there comes a time when more intensive rest or retreat is required.  Sometimes due to a person's physical condition he is admitted into the intensive care unit allowing his body time to recover. Likewise the soul also needs to recover from the hustle and bustle of the world, the spiritual pollution caused by evil elements of society, the rat race of wanting, desiring and acquiring more of this world and the distractions that has diverted our mind, heart and soul from the remembrance of Allah Ta'ala and His Beloved Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Intensive Care Unit(ICU) for the soul is the Musjid and Itikaf is the facitilty within this ICU to allow the soul to not only recover but be spiritually rejuvenated! Itikah is indeed a Spiritual Retreat! Inside each and every human being, a constant battle rages.  It is like a battle between two wolves. One of the wolves is evil.  It is full of hate, lust, and greed.  His fangs drip with bitterness and strife. The other wolf is a good one.  He is full of love, compassion, and honesty.  He never betrays his brother. These two wolves are constantly at war. Which wolf is going to win the battle? The answer is quite obvious…. Whichever one you feed. Our soul is being bombarded by forces of good and evil. We need to feed it good so that it overpowers the evil….and Itikaf is indeed an excellent opportunity to achieve this. Since the life of the transient world keeps us busy for the whole year in studies, work, social functions, business, traveling and other such things that causes us to be negligent of our souls and the next life, we may sometimes think that these things are the sole purpose in life and thus, we end up forgetting our true goal – Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him). Thus, it is for this reason that I'tikaf is referred to as "The spring of life in a world struck with the drought of negligence of Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him)."   It is the negligence of ourselves and our Creator which is given a fresh breath of life during Itikaf. In addition, we can once again find ourselves and our Lord and spiritually return back to Him before we are forced to return back to him by the separation of the soul from the body in a state of complete negligence of Him.   The period of I'tikaf is the best time to force one's self to sit and think and reflect on the self and the world around; the period of the I'tikaf is the best time to forget the worries of the transient world and to return to nurturing the soul and linking oneself with the Creator of the soul; the period of the I'tikaf is the best time to return back to Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) in true repentance for our sins committed through the year and to give our souls the spiritual strength desperately needed to live a spiritual and pure life in this challenging world.  Rasulullâh Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam always observed, I'tikâf and the Muslims have on the whole adhered to it. It has become a regular feature of the month of Ramadhân and a confirmed practice with the devout and the faithful. Hazrat Ayesha Radiallâhu anha relates that "Rasulullâh. Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam regularly observed I'tikâf during the last ten days of Ramadhân till the end of his life. After him, his wives maintained the tradition." (Hadith-Bukhari) It is related by Hazrat Abû Huraira Radiallâhu anhu that "Rasulullâh Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam observed I'tikâf for ten days every year in the month of Ramadhân. In the year he passed away he observed it for twenty days." (Bukhari) 3 TYPES OF ITIKAF 1. WAAJIB Itikaf. This Itikaf becomes compulsory when a person makes it obligatory upon himself. An example of this is, when a person makes a vow to Allah that if Allah fulfills a certain wish of his, he will under take to perform so many days Itikaf. In this case the moment his wish is fulfilled, Itikaf becomes compulsory. A person may just make unconditional vow whereby he makes Itikaf Waajib upon himself for certain number of days. This becomes a Waajib duty on him from that moment onward. 2. SUNNAH Itikaf. This was the general practice of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and it means to seclude oneself inside the Masjid for the last ten days of Ramadhan. 3. NAFIL Itikaf. There is no special time or specific number of days for Nafil Itikaf. A person may make niyyah for any number of days at any time, even for his whole life

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In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

 

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

 

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

                                             As-Salaam Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa- Barakaatuh

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Ramadan Month Mubarak to All ….

 It is a month whose beginning is mercy, its middle is forgiveness and its end is redemption from the Fire. Days pass so quickly, as if they were mere moments. We welcomed Ramadaan, then we bade it farewell, and only a short period of time passed and we are welcoming Ramadaan again. So we should hasten to do good deeds in this month and strive to fill it with that which Allaah is pleased with and with that which will help us on the Day when we meet Him.

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My dear Brothers and Sisters,

 Ramadhan Special Series --Periodical E-Magazine is ready to be transmitted.

You are requested to go through these attachments, one by one, with a view to learn all that you would like to know about the salient features of Ramadhan and Zakat during this most sacred month. In case you need any further clarification, do not please hesitate to make queries.

Kindly remember me and my family in your prayers.

With best regards,

Your brother in Islam

Khalid Latif