As Salam alykom dear members

First off I would like to take the chance and wish u all a blessed Ramadan may Allah assist us and you to perform night prayer and fasting. For this month I felt to give u all a useful present, yet due to time constraints could not prepare it fully. Yet I will just present it in its current form. I just hope that every body would make utmost benefit and help us to develop it into a better formOn this link, you will find a selection of mp3 audio material on this link

http://www.islamsms.com/audio/e/

I wish that each member who downloads and uses the material to provide a brief description (ex. Title, subject, clarity of sound..etc). By this we will be able to add it to the next updated page. I managed to obtain this material from a charitable organization working in Dawa`a but did not have much detail about the contents. Also I no longer in contact with the brothers who prepared the material.

Hassan Alwan 25/10/2003 RAMADAN 1 - 1424

Salamo 3aliekom:

I know it is a bit long, but try to read it to the end...... I think "the plan" worked.

Shereen El-Mitainy

From: "ola mahanni"

Subject: SATAN'S MEETING:

Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2003 14:58:04 +0000

SATAN'S MEETING:

(Read even if you're busy)

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.

In his opening address he said,

"We can't keep Muslims from going to Mosque."

"We can't keep them from reading their Quran and knowing the truth."

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Allah and his messenger Muhammad."

"Once they gain that connection with Allah, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their Mosques; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Allah and his messnger Muhammad."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Allah and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children."

"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive." "To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays music constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with Allah and his messenger Muhammad."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."

"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards."

"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."

Give them headaches too!

"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them story books to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Salat."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on Allah's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. "Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Allah."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!" "It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Muslims everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their Allah or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of Allah and his messenger Muhammad to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean:

B-eing

U-nder

S-atan's

Y-oke?

Please pass this on, if you aren't too BUSY!

I don't think I know 10 people who would admit they love Allah. Do You Love Him?

IF YOU LOVE Allah, PASS THIS ON!!!!!!!

Don't put limits on yourself.

Realize that it's never too late.

loulou

http://www.sultan.org

http://www.islam-online.net/english/index.shtml

A new night

of the sacred month

the thin slice of the moon; the crescent

visible only a few minutes

to the naked eye

A sight beautiful

signaling new,

fresh

Greetings one to the other: Ramadan Mubarakh

And a few hours later

sounds of drums

Wake up! Wake up!

have a meal,

a simple glass of water!

Before the first light,

before you begin the fast,

make the intention

Wake up! Wake up!

And the day progresses, a slowing down;

restaurants closed, coffee houses empty.

And workers begin their trek home early

Late afternoon, the speciality stores open

selling the special once a year snacks,

crowds flocking and moving hurriedly

collecting their Iftar (break fast)

And mothers prepare the traditional meals

taking extra time

for the fasting family

Only an hour before the sun sets

city streets empty,

as in a curfew,

And now only a few minutes,

family and friends gather around the table

making small talk

awaiting the moment...silence...

Allah-hu Akbar

Allah-hu Akbar

Allah-hu Akbar

Allah-hu Akbar

(God is great)

Ash-hadu an la illaha illal-lah

Ash-hadu an la illaha illal-lah

(I witness that there is no God except Allah)

Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah

Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah

(I witness that Mohammad is the Prophet of Allah)

Hay-ye alas-slat

Hay-ye alas-slat

(Hurry up for prayer)

Hay-ye alal falah

Hay-ye alal falah

(Hurry up for prosperity)

Allah-hu Akbar

Allah-hu Akbar

La illaha illal-lah

La illaha illal-lah

(There is no God except Allah)

And the siren, signalling the sun dipping below the horizon

And together, some with dates, some with a pinch of salt

"We take this food in the name of Allah, most gracious, ever merciful"

Prayers given

and later friends and family

mill around, some content

others tired, but all happy

on this day of Ramadan...

Peace

One night I heard a knock on my door;

Who can it be,I wasn't quite sure.

I open the door and am filled with glee;

The visitor ahead is no stranger to me.

I welcome the guest with utmost delight;

For I know it has come to give me respite.

An air of happiness fills the space;

My home now seems, a better place!

Have you any clue who this visitor could be?

Yes!its Ramadhan,the month of mercy.

The pious and righteous can't await its arrival;

Others seem to greet it, with waves of denial.

For Allah(SWT) we fast from dawn to dusk;

For Him our breath is the fragrance of musk.

The muslims who pray and fast with zest;

Are aware of the rewards of this month manifest.

Throughout this month we weep and repent;

Now is the time to strongly lament.

And those who shun this sacred month;

on the Day of Reckoning will face the brunt.

In the last ten nights,hides the Night of Decree;

Allah(SWT) then awaits for his slaves to plea.

The angels descend with Gabriel(AS) in the lead;

To check on the steadfast and record every deed.

A feeling of grief now fills my heart;

As the month of Ramadhan will soon depart.

So lets make a start and worship Him alone;

Now that the worth of this month is known.

In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Kind

A blessed month is casting its shadow upon us

A night of this month is better than a thousand months

Bear with patience for the sake of Ar-Rahman

It’s a continuous training to strengthen our Imaan.

Glory be to Allah who sent Ramadan as a mercy to mankind

Its a purification of our soul, our heart, and our mind

With the most sincere devotion and love we fast

To be cleansed and free from sins of the past

Glorified is He, who choseth this holy month,

To test our sabr and fill our hearts with warmth

Of his Divine Light, His blessings shall glow,

The Seer of the unseen, all He does know

Ya Allah! For thee, let my breath be more pleasant than musk

Ya Allah! For thee, let me be thankful when day turns to dusk

My thoughts and heart are purified, my eyes truly see…

This blessed month, the month of spiritual rhapsody!

Ya Allah! For thee, my life I shall live!

Ya Allah! For thee, my soul I shall give!

In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Kind,

Praise be to Allah, who sent Ramadan as a gift to mankind

I first saw light

my eyes blinked and opened

within your womb

In pain and distress

I entered life

You touched death

when I took my first breath

So small

I could lie, squirming and stretching

upon your gentle hand

Through tiredness and concern

I grew and learned

I found safety on your lap

a love that never fades

In later years I stood

and challenged you

rejecting your authority

But I returned.

where else to go

but to the one who knows me so well

Here I am again

a mother now

and you are gone

Your memory shines in my mind

I speak to mind

as you did to me

Arms outstretched

to collect broken fallen life

a haven

eagerly awaited

A lap, on which to rest

as I found comfort in you

Now I close my eyes

and feel your loving arms

hold me tight

Every word, kiss and kindness

is never lost

it shines in my being

and reflects onto mine.

It is not usually until we grow up and have children of our own that we truly appreciate the love and nurturing we received at the hands of our mothers. With all this in mind, i have dedicated this poem to my mum who contributed so much to what I am today, and who also provided many fields for my learning. Even though I am now grown with children of my own, she cares about me and offers me a love that has no conditions.

Here I am at last

I knew this day would come

My new home for a time

'til the trumpet shall blow

and once again I stand

upon an earth renewed

Dark and still

I wait

Time has gone

Asking my lord for refuge

As I did in days gone by

The call will go on

Long after I've gone

What did I leave behind?

Was I a carrier of light or a player of dreams?

Whose feet walk above me now?

Where do they go? From whence do they come?

Do they carry on the work

Or waste themselves in illusions?

Death, the doorway is ever near

Do they not think of the day?

They shall be like me

Locked in a tomb

Awaiting life

The life that never ends?

This is the tale of an Average Man,

Who acts contrary to Allah's plan,

If you are reflected herein,

Then repent and commit no sin.

It was early in the morning at four,

When death knocked upon a bedroom door,

"Who is there?" the sleeping one cried,

"I am Izrael, let me inside."

At once the man begin to shiver,

As one sweating in deadly fever,

He shouted to his sleeping wife,

"Don't let him take away my life."

"Please go away, O Angel of death!

Leave me alone, I'm not ready yet,

My family on me depend,

Give me a chance, O please perpend."

The Angel knocked again and again,

"Friend, I'll take your life without a pain,

It is your soul that Allah require

I come not with my own desire."

Bewildered, the man began to cry,

"O Angel, I am so afraid to die,

I'll give you gold, and be your slave,

Dont send me to the unlit grave."

"Let me in, O Friend!" the Angel said,

"Open the door get up from your bed,

If you do not allow me in,

I will walk through it like a Jinn."

The man held a gun in his right hand,

Ready to defy the Angel's stand,

"I'll point my gun towards your head,

You dare come in, I'll shoot you dead."

By now the Angel was in the room,

Saying, "O Friend! prepare for your doom,

Foolish man, Angels never die,

Put down your gun and do not sigh."

"Why are you afraid! tell me O man,

To die according to Allah's plan?

Come smile at me, do not grim,

Be happy to return to HIM."

"O Angel! I bow my head in shame,

I had no time to take Allah's name,

From morning till dusk, I made my wealth,

Never even caring for my health."

"Allah's commands, I never obeyed,

Nor five times a day, I ever prayed,

A Ramadan came and a Ramadan went,

But no time had I to repent."

"The Haj was already Fard on me,

But I would not part with my money,

All charaties, I did ignore,

Taking usury, more and more."

Sometimes I sipped my favourite wine,

With flirting women I sat to dine,

O Angel! I appeal to you,

SPare my life for a year or two."

"The laws of Qur'an, I'll obey,

I'll begin to Sholat, this very day,

My fast and Haj, I will complete,

And keep away from self-conceit."

"I will refrain from usury,

And give all my wealth to charaty,

Wine and wenches I will detest,

Allah's Oneness I will attest."

"We Angel do what Allah demands,

We cannot do against His demands,

DEATH is ordained for everyone,

Father, mother, daugther or son."

"I,m afraid, this moment is your last

Now be reminded, more of your past,

I do understand your fears,

But it's now to late for tears."

"You lived in this world two score or more,

Never did you, your people adore,

Your parents you did not obey,

Hungry beggars you tuned away."

"Your two ill-gotten female offsprings,

In nightclub, for livelihood they sing,

Instead of making for Muslims,

You made your children non-Muslims."

"You ignored the Muezzin's Adzan,

Nor did you read the holy Qur'an,

Breaking promises all your life

Backbitting friends and causing strife."

"From hoarded goods, great profits you made,

And your poor workers you underpaid,

A Pint of blood you never gave,

Which could a little baby save."

"O Human, you have done enough wrong,

You bought good properties for a song,

When the farmers appealed to you,

You did not have mercy, it's true."

"Paradise for you? I cannot tell,

Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell,

There's no time for you to repent,

I'll take your soul, for which I'm sent."

The ending , however is very sad,

Eventually, the man became mad,

With a cry he jumped out of bed,

And suddenly, he fell down dead.

O Reader, take a moral from here,

never know your end may be near

Change your living and make amends,

for Heaven,on your deeds depend."

Salam alikom

I don't know if this is the right place to post this article!?.

الثقافة الجنسية للفتيات.. مسؤولية من ؟

فاطمة عبد الرؤوف *

ثمة عدد من المشكلات والقضايا لا تلقى الاهتمام والانتباه على الرغم من خطورتها وآثارها على أمن المجتمع الإسلامي واستقراره ، وتجاهل مثل هذه القضايا بشبه تجاهل النيران تحت الرماد الذي قد يؤدي في النهاية إلى كارثة !

ومن القضايا التي يتم تجاهلها قضية الثقافة الجنسية للفتيات ، فالفتاة المسلمة اليوم تعاني لأنه لا أحد يهتم – حقيقة- بمشكلاتها الجنسية الخاصة ؛ فالأم أقرب إنسان إلى الفتاة تتحرج أن تتحدث مع ابنتها في مثل هذه الأمور ، وإن تحدثت معها فبلسان النصح الجاف أو التحذير أو التخويف ، وتستشعر الفتاة أنه من غير اللائق أن تسأل أمها في مثل هذه الأمور ( لأنها قلة حياء ) فتتباعد عن أمها وتتحدد نظرتها إلى هذه الأمور الجنسية وفقا لأحد احتمالين :

الاحتمال الأول: هو رفض الفتاة واحتقارها للجنس ؛ لأنه شي هابط لا يليق بالفتاة المهذبة أن يكون لديها شعور إيجابي نحوه ، إضافة لاحتقار مظاهر أنوثتها التي ترتبط في ذهنها بالدخول في مرحلة جديدة مرفوضة بالنسبة لها ، وربما يصل الأمر في النهاية إلى رفض وكراهية الزوج نفسه ، وإن تزوجت فمن أجل العادات والأعراف لا أكثر ولكنها تظل تعاني في زواجها ؛ لأنه قد ترسب لديها في اللاشعور أن هذا السلوك حقير وهابط ولا يليق بها أن تتجاوب معه فيترجم ذلك كله في صورة برود في علاقتها بزوجها ، ومهما كان الزوج رقيقا وحنونا فلن يجدي ذلك في ذوبان الجليد الذي يكسو حياتهما.

الاحتمال الثاني : أن تهتم الفتاة اهتماما مبالغا فيه بقضايا الجنس ، وحديث كثير من المراهقات يدور حول هذه القضايا ، وقد تتلقى معلوماتها من الصديقات الجاهلات وإن لم يكن لديها وازع ديني قوي فإنها تستقي معلوماتها من الدش أو المواقع الإباحية على الإنترنت ، والنتيجة في هذه الحالة تكون أسوأ بكثير وقد تصل بالفتاة إلى عتبة الانحراف!! لأن هذه النوعية من المعلومات تعتمد على الإثارة الحسية وليس فيها من العلم إلا القليل ، وربما وصلت إلى نتيجة تشبه النتيجة الأولى من رفض الزوج والهروب لأنه من الشائع بين المراهقات الحديث عن الآلام الفظيعة المترتبة على الزواج خاصة في مشكلة البناء .

وعلى سبيل المثال فهذه فتاة أرسلت مشكلتها لطبيب نفسي مشهور تشكو له من أنها ترفض كل عريس يتقدم لها بحجة مختلفة رغم أن كل عريس منهم لا يعيبه شيء حتى بدا أهلها يشكون في سلوكها على الرغم من أنها إنسانة خلوقة متدينة ولكن السبب الذي لا تجرؤ أن تبوح لأحد به لها في وصف الآلام التي تترتب على الزواج لذلك فهي خائفة!

·موقف الإسلام من الجنس

والسؤال هو ما موقف الإسلام من الثقافة الجنسية ومن هو المسؤول عن توصيل هذه الثقافة إلى الفتاة خاصة؟

الواقع الذي لاشك فيه أن الإسلام هو دين الفطرة فلم يقف من الجسد موقف الريبة والرفض بل منح الجسد الإنساني كل الحرية في الاستمتاع بطيبات الحياة الدنيا بلا إسراف وفي دائرة الحلال الخالص يقول تعالى :"والذين هم لفروجهم حافظون إلا على أزواجهم أو ما ملكت أيمانهم فإنهم غير ملومين فمن ابتغى وراء ذلك فأولئك هم العادون" (المؤمنون الآية 5 – 7)

فالزواج هو الدائرة المباحة التي يتحقق فيها الإشباع الجنسي ولن يتحقق ذلك إلا بالمعلومات الصادقة عن ماهية الزواج وأهميته ولماذا خلق الله الذكر والأنثى ولكل منهما خصائص جسدية ونفسية وهناك إشارات كثيرة لذلك وردت في القران الكريم والسنة النبوية الشريفة فالله سبحانه وتعالى يقول عن العلاقة بين الزوجين "هن لباس لكم وأنتم لباس لهن" البقرة 187

وللنفس الإنسانية أن تحلق في معاني هذه الآية الكريمة وما تشمله من نواحي الترابط المادي والنفسي وهذه الفكرة لابد من توصيلها للفتاة وأن سعادتها واستقرارها النفسي لن يكون إلا بالزواج الذي يعتبر حدثا مهما ومبهجا لذا فلابد أن تكون منشرحة وسعيدة عندما تظهر عليها علامات الأنوثة التي تفتح لها آفاقا جديدة في حياتها.

والسؤال في مثل هذه الأمور ليس عيبا أو حراما فهاهي امرأة من الأنصار تسأل الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم عن كيفية الغسل من الحيض ، وبعد أن تروي السيدة عائشة رضي الله عنها الحديث تعلق قائلة : نعم النساء نساء الأنصار لم يكن يمنعهن الحياء أن يتفقهن في الدين .

·المبادرة بتقديم المعلومات الضرورية

ولا ينبغي أن ننتظر من الفتاة السؤال فقد يكون من الحكمة تقديم بعض المعلومات الضرورية حتى دون سؤال ، فعن أبي موسى قال : اختلف رهط من المهاجرين والأنصار فقال الأنصاريون: لا يجب الغسل إلا من الغسل أو الدفق أو من الماء وقال المهاجرون بل إذا خالط فقد وجب الغسل ، قال أبو موسى : فأنا أشفيكم ذلك فاستأذنت على عائشة فأذن لي ، فقلت لها: يا أماه أو يا أم المؤمنين إني أريد أن أسألك إني أستحييك ، فقالت : لا تستحيي أن تسألني عما كنت سائلا عنه أمك التي ولدتك فإنما أنا أمك ، قلت: فما يوجب الغسل ؟ قالت : على الخبير سقطت، قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إذا جلس بين شعبها الأربع ومس الختان الختان فقد وجب الغسل.. رواه مسلم .

وموطن الشاهد هنا قول أم المؤمنين لا تستحيي أن تسألني عما كنت سائلا عنه أمك التي ولدتك وهذا الكلام موجه لأبي موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه فما بال العلاقة بين الأم وابنتها وما هي حدود الأسئلة التي تكون بينهما؟! ولماذا لا تأخذ الأم بزمام المبادرة ؟!

·توجيهات لتقديم الثقافة الجنسية للفتاة

·في مرحلة الطفولة لابد من تفهيم الفتاة حقيقة جنسها وأن الله سبحانه وتعالى خلق جنسين مختلفين الذكر والأنثى لحكمة يعلمها وأنه لا فضل لجنس على آخر وإنما يكمل كل منهما الأخر.

·في أواخر مرحلة الطفولة لابد من الإشارة إلى أن هناك تغييرات جسدية سوف تحدث وأن هذه التغييرات بشرى سارة ولا تحمل أي معنى للإزعاج .

·بمجرد وصول الفتاة إلى مرحلة البلوغ لابد أن تشرح لها خصائص جسدها وأعضاءها التناسلية الداخلية والخارجية.

·بتقدم الفتاة في العمر وفي الأوقات المناسبة لابد من تعريفها تدريجيا بطبيعة الزواج ويتأكد الأمر في حالة خطبة الفتاة إذ لا يجوز بحال من الأحوال أن تساق الفتاة إلى الزواج وهي جاهلة بما هي مقدمة عليه.

·الأم هي الإنسان المناسب لشرح هذه الحقائق لأنها القريبة من ابنتها وهي المسؤولة عنها وسيسألها المولى عز وجل عن هذه الأمانة ومن الممكن أن تشارك الأم في هذه المسؤولية معلمة المسجد أثناء دروس الفقه فهي تستطيع منح الفتاه بعض الأضواء الهادية أثناء دروس الطهارة أو أثناء الحديث عن أحكام الأسرة وهذه المعلومات تقدم في إطار العلم الشرعي لذا فإن لها قدسية خاصة وكذلك معلمة الأحياء في المدرسة عليها دور تقديم المعلومة الصحيحة للفتاة فيما يتعلق بتشريح جسدها ووظائفه وكل هذه المعلومات تلتحم معا لتقديم صورة صادقة وأمينة للثقافة الجنسية في ذهن الفتاة

·وأخيرا لابد من تربية الفتاة تربية إيمانية عميقة تدرك من خلالها أن جسدها أمانة يجب أن تحافظ عليها فلا تترك نفسها لصديقات السوء أو للدش ومواقع الإنترنت الفاضحة لتعرف منهم إجابات للتساؤلات التي في ذهنها عن الجنس لأنها بهذه الطريقة تعرض نفسها لباب واسع من الفتن قد لا تصمد في مواجهته ولكن عليها بأهل الثقة والعلم كالأم وإن لم تكن الأم.. فمعلمة المسجد أو أخت كبرى معروف عنها الالتزام والخلق وإلا فالصبر حتى يهيئ لها المولى عز وجل المعرفة الصحيحة مع الاستعانة بالصيام والصلاة والدعاء ومطالعة كتب العلم الشرعي .

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* باحثة إسلامية بكلية دار العلوم بجامعة القاهرة

Words of advice for Ramadhaan

Question: What words of guidance do you have for the Muslim ummah, on the occasion of the month of Ramadhaan?

Response: In the name of Allaah, all praise is to Allaah alone, and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions and whoever is guided (aright) by his guidance. To proceed:

Certainly, concerning the approach of the blessed month of Ramadhaan, I advise my Muslim brethren everywhere to have taqwa of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic; to strive to do good deeds; to give sincere advice and be patient with the advice; to assist one another in good deeds and piety; to be cautious of all the sins Allaah has forbidden, wherever one may be, especially during this noble month - for indeed it is a great (precious) month, within which the reward for good actions is multiplied.

Mistakes (sins) are forgiven during this month, for those who fast and perform voluntary prayers, with sincere faith and hoping to attain Allaah's rewards.

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadhaan, out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allaah's rewards, then all his previous sins will be forgiven)).

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) also said:

((When the month of Ramadhaan starts, the gates of the Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained)).

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) also said:

((Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, "I am fasting")).

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) also said (on the authority of Allaah):

((All the deeds of the son of Aadam are for for himself; a good deed is eqaul to ten times it's equivalent except fasting, for certainly it is for Me, and I will give the reward for it. He left his desires, his food, his drink for My sake. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. The unpleasant smell coming from the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allaah than the smell of musk)).

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) used to announce the good news of the arrival of the month of Ramadhaan to his companions, and would say to them:

((The month of Ramadhaan has come to you. It is the month of blessings. During this month, Allaah sends down mercy, ones mistakes are forgiven, supplications are answered and Allaah praises you in the presence of His angels, so show Allaah your virtues. For certainly the unfortunate individual is he who is prohibited from the mercy of Allaah)).

The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((One who does not abandon evil talk and actions, then Allaah is not in need of him abandoning his food and drink (i.e. his fasting))).

And (such) narrations regarding the superiority of Ramadhaan and striving to increase good deeds in it, are many.

Therefore, I advise my Muslim brethren to be sincere and upright during the days and the nights, and to compete in doing all good deeds. And from amongst these (good deeds) are: To increase in reading the Noble Qur.aan, with understanding and contemplation. And to increase in glorifying Allaah [subhaan-Allaah] (at-Tasbeeh), prasing Allaah [al-Hamdu-Lillaah] (at-Tahmeed), declaring none truly worthy of worship except Allaah [Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah] (at-Tahleel), declaring the greatness of Allaah [Allaahu Akbar] (at-Takbeer), and seeking forgiveness from Allaah [Astaghfi-rullaah] (al-Istighfaar), and to ask Allaah for Paradise, seeking His protection from the Hell fire and all (other) good supplications.

I also advise my Muslim brethren to increase in giving charity during this month; to comfort the poor and destitute; to make (every) effort to deduct the Zakaah (from one's wealth) and distribute it amongst the deserving; to make (every) effort in inviting to (the path of) Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) and teaching those unacquainted (with Islaam); to command the good and forbid the evil with gentleness, wisdom and the best of manners; to warn against all evil and adhere to seeking sincere repentance, according to Allaah's saying:

{…and all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful}, [soorah an-Noor, Aayah 31].

And the saying of Allaah:

{Verily those who say: 'Our Lord is (only) Allaah,' and thereafter Istaqamu (i.e. stood firm and straight on the Islaamic Faith of Monotheism by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allaah has forbidden and by performing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained), - On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever), - a reward for what they used to do}, [soorah al-Ahqaaf, Aayah's 13-14].

May Allaah grant everyone success in that which pleases Him and protect everyone from the temptations which misguide and all satanic enticement. For certainly Allaah is generous and kind.

Shaykh 'Ibn Baaz

Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 1, Page 32, Fatwa No.7;

Majmoo' Fataawa Samaahatu as-Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Ibn Baaz - Volume 3, Pages 147-148

[www.fatwa-online.com]