Ramadhan Quotes

Ramadhan activities help to encourage children to fast during Ramadhan

1. creating a 99 names of Allah (SWT) challenge
2. participating in Ramadhan Quran'-a-thon
3. making ramadhan crafts

4. Encourage charitable activities, for example:

(a) We distribute donated gifts and create packages for the Summer Islamic Reading Challenge participants and mail them out together during Ramadan (stuffing envelopes, picking the awards, etc.).

(b) Donate perishable foods to a food pantry.

(c) Donate clothes and linens to charitable organizations, ideally a masjid.
(d) Keep a Sadaqah bank, and encourage giving during the last ten days of Ramadan for extra rewards, instead of on Eid.
(e) Create something of sadaqah jariyah (on-going charity) in words together, such as this list that will help other Muslims and their families. My girls and I are writing this together right now while we’re fasting.
(f) Find out if poor families live near or around you, and make Eid/Ramadan goody bags for each of their family members. Deliver zakat al-fitr as a family.
(g) Slaughter as a family, and give the meat you slaughtered to the poor.
(h) Make random donations to the poor, and let your kids go with you. Remind them that any charity offered during Ramadan is multiplied.
(i) By following your example, your kids will start making their own random donations, such as allowance that would normally be used for candy would become a donation.
(j) Volunteer as much as possible together, ideally for Muslim organizations, but don’t discount needs in your community, e.g., we volunteer a great deal of time to homeschool organizations, public libraries, etc.
(k) Offer to organize a fundraiser for your local masjid, or run one virtually online.
(l) Volunteer to hold an Islamic contest, and have your kids participate.
(m) Head or assist in running a Qur’an competition, and encourage your kids to compete.

Tips to help kids fast (part 2)

Make wudu once you get out of bed because it will fully awaken you. Allow yourself to air dry. Do not towel dry your wudu. Allow wudu to be refreshing.

Make suhoor/Fajr routines as a family, especially if the actions are sunnah. 

For example: We take turns reciting Qur’an between suhoor and Fajr and just sip glasses of water until the adhan, Pray Fajr on time, Do not rush through the two rakas of Fajr, Watch Mekkah live on the internet, Read Qur’an until shurook and share the hadith about staying in the same position you prayed fajr until you pray sunrise prayer.

Let the kids sleep in a little, such as 9 – 10am. Do not let the kids sleep in late, for example, until Dhuhr or mid-day.

Pray all prayers on-time together, as a family.

Have kids pick iftaar meal.

Have kids help make iftaar meal with you, and make a surprise side dish.

Do not have kids help in the kitchen near food if you know they can’t resist tasting the food. For example, one of our daughters loves making salads because she loves eating fresh vegetables. When she was younger, she made innocent mistakes and took intentional snacks. We worked hard to preoccupy her during food preparation until she was old enough to resist this temptation.

Have kids pick iftaar dessert.




Have kids help make iftaar dessert with you, and set aside a tiny sweet surprise.
Encourage kids to walk away from tempting situations involving food (i.e., snack bars at stores, cafeterias, restaurants, etc.)

Encourage kids to walk away from confrontation with others (especially siblings) by saying “I’m fasting” in a kind, gentle way and walk away politely. Do not allow kids to pass it off as a brash excuse to be rude.

Learn Qur’anic Arabic together with rules of Tajweed. Remember it is an obligation upon every Muslim to read and recite the Qur’an. The talent to memorize is a gift.

Memorize Qur’an together. Set a personal and family goal as to number of lines, ayats, surahs, pages, etc. for the month and work each day to meet this goal.

Encourage kids to have private reflexive time to contemplate a given chore: tafsir, reflecting on the poor, etc

10 tips to help kids fast during ramadhan (Part 1)

1. Discuss honestly in open the importance of setting one’s intentions to fast for the sake and pleasure of Allah subhanallahu wa Ta’ala, and Him alone. Share all the Islamic principles of this one selfless act and the grave rewards towards the giving of oneself purely as a devout servant of God. These strong deep intentions much be at the root of their fast and must proceed the physical action of fasting. Since the intention of fasting must be made the night before, make the intentions together as a family each night.
2. Create an atmosphere that encourages your children to want to fast. As minors, children must ask and seek permission from their parents to fast. While making intentions together the night before fasting in Ramadan, permission should be sought at the same time. This able request must be sincere and come from the child, not a forced action from the parent to the child. Our girls started asking to fulfill this mature undertaken at two and three years old because they witnessed my husband and I embrace our beloved month of fast and saw the rewards of our actions. Their choice to emulate us was effortless and pure, mashaAllah.
3. The mental, emotional, moral, and Islamic habits of fasting are much more important than the act of fasting from worldly things like food and drink. Break your children’s fast if they pout, have a bad attitude, or argue. We give our girls 3-strikes in their attitudes, or we force them to eat and drink.
4. Pick what you want to eat for suhoor together the night before.
5. Study the nutrition and sunnah of suhoor and create the most simplistic meal to withhold a full day’s fast.
6. Prepare suhoor together before you go to sleep. Have ingredients out, fruits pre-cut, foods defrosting, etc.
7. Go to sleep right after Ishaa prayer.
8. Better yet, go to sleep after Maghrib, and wake up kids for Ishaa, Taraweeh, and Qiyaam al-Layl.
9. Share the sunnah of suhoor. Kids will ache and rush to wake up for suhoor, simply because there’s great reward for eating suhoor; rather then brushing it off as unnecessary or unimportant.
10. Wake up for suhoor at least one-hour before the adhan for Fajr, and use the time to reflect, pray the late night prayer and critical du’a. Don’t wake up to eat and pray half-asleep. Waking up a few minutes before Fajr to eat a big suhoor meal quickly is not healthy as it shocks the body with food, and it is bad for metabolism if you sleep immediately after a drowsy and meaningless prayer. Slow waking, slow eating (ideally half-hour before fajr), and slow praying is more recommended.

Rule of muslim fasting

Fasting is simple. There are only a few rules and regulations to practice: 

First Rule 

The person must intend to fast before the start time for the Morning Prayer. Intention is in the heart and so one should not say anything in particular. The Messenger said, "He who does not resolve to fast before it is Fajr (Morning Prayer), then there is no fast for him." 

Second Rule 

If a person eats or drinks out of mistake and did not know it is Ramadan, then he should stop eating or drinking anymore and complete his fast for the rest of the day. Some scholars disagree with this and say that fasting later after Ramadan should make up this particular day. It seems the best opinion is that there is no need to make it up, but we must not argue about this. 

Another point is that many people think brushing one's teeth, washing the nose or mouth, giving blood or taking an injection, which does not provide nourishment, using the inhaler for those who suffer from asthma, pouring water on the head or taking a bath may break or affect the fast. This is not true. As long as food or water does not enter the throat then it is OK. A person who is a traveller, ill, very old, pregnant or breast-feeding does not have to fast but can make up the days later. A woman in her menstruation must not fast but make up the days later. 

Third Rule 

All eating and drinking must stop immediately at start of Morning Prayer time. The Quran and the Sunnah clearly teaches how to tell when to stop eating. As soon as the reddish whiteness spread sideways in the horizon then it is the true start of Fajr time. It is not when you can see the very first sign of whiteness in the horizon that rises upwards. 
But remember though, if you are in the process of drinking and the call to prayer is given, then finish drinking before putting it down! 

In this age a lot of people rely upon timetables and astronomy. These can be used to help make things easier but not to replace the way taught in the revelation. The method in the revelation is natural and easier because it directs us to use our eyes and look. If we are mistaken then there is no problem. Also, this method frees us from becoming strict with precise timings leading to quarrelling with one another. If you cannot get a time table or it is difficult to find out by looking at the sky for any reason, then a suitable way is to find out from a newspaper the Greenwich sunrise time and then work out something suitable. The start time for fasting could be an hour to an hour and a half earlier than the sunrise time for the day. 

Fourth Rule 

The person must break his fast directly after sunset. He should not delay it as some people do just to make sure the sun has really gone down. As soon as the disc of the sun disappears then fasting should be broken. It is possible that at that time it is still quite bright outside, but this does not matter at all. 

What is the best way to break the fast? 
Well, it is reported that the Messenger used to break the fast with fresh dates before praying, if not with fresh dates then with older dates, and if not with older dates then with some mouthfuls of water. 

What do we say when we break the fast? 
The best supplication (du'a) that is reported from the Messenger that he used to say when breaking the fast is: Thirst has gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain, if Allah wills. (Dhahabadh dhama'u wabtaallatil 'urooqu wa thabatal ajru inshaa Allah) It is very good to feed others so that they break the fast with your food. The Messenger said that for every person whom we help in breaking the fast by feeding them, it would be like as if we did their fasts too. 

Fifth Rule 

The person should try his best to take a meal before starting to fast. This meal is called suhoor. The Messenger spoke of its blessings and how it is a true characteristic of fasting in Islam. In one of the sayings of the Messenger he said,"The suhoor is a meal of blessings, so do not leave it, even if one of you just take a (gulp) of water, since Allah sends mercy and His Angels seek forgiveness for those who take the suhoor." 
It is better to delay the suhoor until just before the Fajr prayer according to the way of the Messenger. The ideal way is to finish eating before the Fajr prayer so that there is time to read up to 50 verses from the Quran. 

Sixth Rule 

It is very important to behave well when fasting. One should try his utmost not to lie, argue, or use bad language. Here are two sayings of the Messenger: 

1. Whoever does not give up falsehood in word and action then Allah the Mighty the Majestic has no need that he should leave his food and his drink. 
2. Fasting is not (merely giving up) from eating and drinking, rather it is (keeping away) from ignorant and indecent talk. So if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then say, "I am fasting, I am fasting." 

Seventh Rule 

The following things definitely cancels the fast: 
1. Eating and drinking deliberately 
2. Vomiting intentionally 
3. Menstruation 
4. Injections containing nourishment 
5. Sexual intercourse or deliberate ejaculation 


Wallahualam.

Taraweeh prayer.

Question: 




Does the Tarawih Prayer substitute for two rak`ahs of 

sunnah following the `Isha' Prayer? 

If it does not, when should the two rak`ahs of sunnah be 

performed? 

What is the time of the Tarawih Prayer?




In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.



The true opinion states that the Tarawih Prayer is not valid before the `Isha' Prayer. There is no disagreement among the jurists that the Tarawih Prayer is valid after the `Isha' Prayer; however, it is better that Muslims pray the sunnah Prayer of `Isha' before the Tarawih Prayer. Muslims should not neglect the sunnah Prayer after `Isha', as it is sunnah mu`akkadah (confirmed Sunnah) and the Tarawih Prayer does not substitute for it.

If the people of a certain mosque are not used to giving time for the people to pray these two rak`ahs, they should be kindly advised to follow the Sunnah. If they refuse, there is no need for dissension. The sunnah Prayer can be performed after the Tarawih Prayer, or one can perform the first two rak`ahs of the Tarawih Prayer with the intention to perform the sunnah Prayer of `Isha', and then complete the Tarawih Prayer.

Muslims should observe the two rak`ahs of sunnah after `Isha', as Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him), narrated that she heard him say, "If any Muslim servant (of Allah) prays for the sake of Allah twelve rak`ahs (sunnah prayers) every day, over and above the obligatory ones, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise, or a house will be built for him in Paradise" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, "I have not abandoned observing them after (hearing it from the Messenger of Allah)."

It is stated in the Kuwaiti Encyclopedia of Fiqh that the majority of the jurists assert that the Tarawih Prayer is sunnah mu`akkadah and it should be performed after the `Isha' Prayer. The Tarawih Prayer is considered a sunnah Prayer, as it is performed after the obligatory Prayer. Its time starts after performing the sunnah Prayer of `Isha' and ends shortly before Fajr, to leave time to pray the Witr Prayer. It is preferable not to delay it, if one will miss the prayer in congregation.

Moreover, the Kuwaiti Encyclopedia mentioned the madhhabs of the scholars as follows:
The majority of the scholars hold the opinion that the time of the Tarawih Prayer is after the `Isha' Prayer until the Fajr [Prayer], before performing the Witr Prayer, as the Prophet's Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to pray it during this time. If a Muslim prays it after the Maghrib Prayer and before the `Isha' Prayer, the majority of jurists and many Hanafis hold the opinion that it does not replace the Tarawih Prayer and the Malikis say that it is a nafl (supererogatory) Prayer. However, some Hanafis say that it is valid, as all the night—before and after `Isha'—until Fajr is a time for the Tarawih Prayer. The Hanbalis say that it is invalid because it is performed after an obligatory Prayer, i.e., the `Isha'; hence, it is invalid before the `Isha' Prayer, just as is the sunnah Prayer following `Isha'. Also, they say that the Tarawih Prayer is performed after the two rak`ahs of sunnah Prayer after the `Isha'. Al-Majd, one of the Hanbali jurists, says, "As it is disliked to delay the Sunnah prayer of the `Isha' to be performed after the chosen time of the `Isha', it is more suitable to perform the Tarawih prayer following the Sunnah of the `Isha'."

If one performed it (i.e. the Tarawih) after the `Isha' Prayer and the Witr Prayer, many of the Hanafis hold the opinion that it is sufficient. Some of the Hanafis and Shafi`is say that it is preferable to delay the Tarawih Prayer until the third or the half of the night. The Hanafis differ concerning performing it after the half of the night: Some say that it is disliked, as it succeeds the `Isha' Prayer, just like the sunnah Prayer of the `Isha'; and the right opinion that it is not disliked, as it is the Night Prayer that is preferable to be performed late at night. The Hanbalis say that it is preferable to perform Tarawih in the early part of the night, as people used to do so during the time of `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). When Ahmad was asked to delay the Tarawih Prayer until the last part of the night, he answered, "The sunnah of the Muslims is dearer to me."

It was mentioned in Al-Insaf fi Al-Fiqh Al-Hanbali:
According to the right opinion of the madhhab and the chosen opinion of the majority of the scholars, the time of the Tarawih Prayer is after the `Isha' Prayer and its sunnah Prayer. As reported and asserted by Harb in Al-`Umdah, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said that it is performed after the `Isha' and before the sunnah Prayer of the `Isha'.

Also, it was stated in Kashshaf Al-Qina` fi Al-Fiqh Al-Hanbali, "If he prayed the Tarawih Prayer after the `Isha' Prayer and before its sunnah, it is absolutely valid; however, it is better to be performed after the sunnah Prayer."


Allah Almighty knows best.

Rasulullah pray not more than 11 rak'at for qiyam

According to Sheikh al-Albani: 

The Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) did not pray more than eleven rak'at for qiyam (thirteen if we count the two short introductory rak'at). 

'Umar (r.a.) commanded Ubayy Bin Ka'b (r.a.) and Tamim ad-Dari (r.a.) to lead the people in tarawih with eleven rak'at, in accordance with the authentic Sunnah. 

All reports that the people at the time of 'Umar (r.a.), or any of the noble sahabah, prayed twenty rak'at are unauthentic and contradict the truly established reports. Similarly, all claims that the sahabah (r.a.) have made an ijma' (consensus) to pray twenty rak'at are baseless. 

Even if a weak report were considered authentic by some people, one should still follow the well established authentic report, because it agrees with the number established in the Sunnah. One may not desert the Sunnah for anybody's understanding or practice. 

With our certitude that the Prophet's (saaws) consistent practice is the best, it becomes obvious that one should adhere to the number established in the Sunnah, and refrain from adding to it. This has been the position of many 'ulama. 

And even if we concede to the often misquoted and misunderstood statement that, "There are good innovations," we must adhere to the consensus among the scholars that following Sunnah is better that any innovation. 'Abdullah Bin Mas'ud (r.a.) said: "Doing little according to the Sunnah is better than doing much in way of bid'ah." [Authentic report recorded by ad-Darimi, al-Bayhaqi, and al-Hakim. The latter verified it to be authentic - to which ath-Thahabi agreed.]

Ramadhan the blessing month

The benefits of the Ramadhan month of fasting are too many to be counted. If one does recognize them and realize their importance, he wishes to have the month of Ramadhan to be throughout the whole year.

These blessings are given by Allah to the fasting Muslims, who are to fast with full faith and expectation.

These blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadhan have been grouped and summarized into different categories. They are summarized here without commentary. It should be remembered that all of these blessings were taken directly from Holy Quran and Hadith.

The following is a partial list for the blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadhan:

01. Taqwa:

1. Fearing Allah (SWT)
2. Practicing the Revelations of Allah (SWT)
3. Accepting the little things that one has achieved
4. Preparing for departure from this world to the Hereafter
5. Self-discipline
6. Self-control
7. Self-restraint
8. Self-education
9. Self-evaluation

By accepting these criteria and by practicing them, the Muslim will achieve the concept of Taqwa in his private and public life.

02. Protection:

1. Avoiding Immorality
2. Avoiding anger/outcry/uproar
3. Avoiding stupidity
4. Avoiding all makrooh/mashbooh/haram

By achieving these good manners, a Muslim will come out of fasting a better human being in the society.

03. Revelation of Holy Quran: The Holy Quran was revealed during the month of Ramadhan. The Holy Quran is meant to be:

1. A Guidance to mankind
2. A Manifestation of right from wrong
3. A Summation and culmination of all previous revelations
4. A Glad-tiding to the believers
5. A Healer
6. A Mercy

04. Doors of heaven are open

05. Doors of hell are closed

06. Devils are chained down

07. Fasting with Iman (faith) and expectation: Such type of intention leads to forgiveness by Allah (SWT) to the individual’s sins.

08. Door of Rayyan: There is in Paradise a door called Al-Rayyan. It is for the fasting Muslims. Only those who fasted the month of Ramadhan are the ones to enjoy the bliss of Paradise inside that area.

09. Rejoices: There are two types of rejoices for the Muslims who fast. These are:

1. When breaking fast
2. When meeting Allah (SWT) on the day of Judgment

10. Mouth Smell: The smell of the mouth of the fasting Muslim will be better than the smell of musk during the day of Judgement. (Bad Breath)

11. Glad-Tidings: These glad-tidings are given to the well-wishers while the ill-wishers are to be stopped during fasting.

12. Ramadhan -to- Ramadhan: Whoever fasts two consecutive months of Ramadhan with good intention will receive forgiveness for the mistakes committed throughout the year.

13. Multiplication of Rewards: Doing good = 10x, 70x, 700x or more during the month of Ramadhan.

14. Feeding Others: Whoever invites others to break the fast, and whoever takes care of the hungry, needy, during the last ten days of Ramadhan will receive equal rewards to the fasting person(s).

15. Blessing of Iftar: Dua is accepted by ALLAH (SWT) at Iftar time.

16. Blessings of Sahoor (The late night meal): This meal time gives the opportunity for:

1. Night Prayers
2. Zikr, Remembrance, Contemplation
3. Recitation of Holy Quran
4. Fajr Salat in Jamaat
5. Dua of Fajr

17. Night Prayers: Whoever performs the Night prayers with sincerity and good intention will receive forgiveness of his past mistakes.

18. Shafa’at (Pleading One’s Case for Forgiveness): Whoever fasts Ramadhan will receive on the day of Judgement the Shafa’at of:

1. Ramadhan
2. Holy Quran

19. Ihya (Passing Nights Awake): Last ten days of Ramadhan. When a Muslim makes this type of effort, he will get rewards, forgiveness, and multiples of blessings.

20. Itikaf (Retreat): A Muslim who performs Itikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan will get:

1. Blessings and rewards
2. Peace of mind
3. Contemplation and evaluation
4. Better citizen

21. Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Power): Whoever observes it with sincerity and good intention will get the following benefits:

1. Forgiveness of mistakes
2. Better than 1,000 months
3. Dua
4. Zikr
5. Prayers
6. Reading Holy Quran
7. Rewards
8. Blessings
9. Better human being

22. Generosity: Kindness, hospitality, visitation, etc. All of these and many more are among the benefits of Ramadhan.

23. Zakat al-Fitrah (Charity on Eid Day): The benefits of paying such as charity to the needy are tremendous, among which are the following:

1. Purity
2. Feeding the needy
3. Sharing happiness
4. Improving human relations
5. Improving society

24. Sadaqah (Charity): The benefits of paying sadaqah are many. These are summarized as follows:

1. Purity
2. Flourishing of wealth
3. Improving economy
4. Circulation of wealth
5. Elimination of inflation
6. Elimination of poverty

25. Fasting and Health: By fasting, one gets the following benefits:

1. Purification of body from toxins
2. Reducing of weight
3. Purity of brain
4. Rejuvenation of body
5. Living of life with happiness
6. Looking younger

26. Change of Lifestyle: By living a different life style, one gets rid of the monotony of life and hence enjoys his life span.

27. Sharing: Of hunger, thirst and rituals with others in the society.

28. Eid-ul-Fitr (Feast): Sharing of happiness and visitation of one another as members of the society.

29. Graveyards Visitation: One will get the following benefits by visiting graveyards.

1. Dua for the deceased
2. Preparing oneself for departure from this world
3. Feeling respect for the deceased
4. Making the person to be humble in his life

30. Every breath is Tasbiih. Every breath and even sleep is Ibadah and awarded.

31. Umrah in Ramadhan: Visiting Makkah during the fasting month of Ramadhan is:

1. Equal to one Hajj (pilgrimage)
2. Equal to one Hajj with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

32. Historical Successes and Victories in Ramadhan: Muslims throughout their history received many benefits during Ramadhan the month of fasting, among which are the following:

1. Battle of Badr
2. Battle of Khandaq
3. Opening of Makkah
4. Battle of Tabuk
5. Tariq Ibn Ziyad opened Europe
6. Salahuddin liberated Jerusalem from the crusaders
7. Egypt and Israel, 1973 – Egyptians kicked the Israelis out of Egypt during Ramadhan the month of fasting, etc.

33. Learning lessons from historical incidents that happened during Holy Ramadhan the month of fasting, e.g.

1. Wafaat Hazrat Khadijeh (as).
2. Wiladat Imam Hassan bin Ali (as).
3. Shahadat Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as).
4. Youm-al-Quds