Before the Sand Slips Away..

[Sadiq]

http://www.lutonmuslims.co.uk/krmdnslipsaway.htm

Before the Sand Slips Away

Imagine that you are on the beach. You are four years old. The camp
leader has told you that you have five minutes to build a great
castle.
" Quickly," your three year old brother, Ameer tells you, " the sand
here is too soft. Run closer to the water and get better sand!" Off
you run and grab, with your tiny hands, as much sand as you can hold.
But, as you run back, plop, plop, plop, you feel the sand slipping
through your fingers. You can do nothing about it. In your haste, all
the sand has slipped away. Bang. The competition is over. This is the
analogy of our lives. This is the analogy of our time in Ramadan.

For many living in Western countries, Ramadan is passed daily with 9
to 5 jobs or school - nights where we may or may not go for Taraweeh.
A peak at the TV (may Allah protect us) and the night is over. Back to
work where all around us people are eating and drinking from crystal
water fountains. Blink. Ramadan is over.

The question of the hour is: how do we take full advantage of this
gift of Allah? This is our topic, before the sands of Ramadan slip
away.

How many years have we been fasting Ramadan? 10 or 15 or 40 years? Are
we 10 or 15 or 40 times better? Or, does it seem like we have arrived
back at the drawing board every time Ramadan comes around? All acts of
worship are for our own benefit! Don't do it and harm befalls you,
which is the way life was programmed.

Ramadan is no small matter. It is one of the pillars of this Deen of
Islam – without it one's Islam would not be complete. In this month,
Rasul Allah (SAW) would intensify his worship of Allah ta'ala. In
doing so, he laid the foundation for his Ummah after him to emulate.

Ibn AlQayyim (rh) wrote: "From his(SAW) blessed guidance in Ramadan
is that he used to intensify and diversify his actions of worship. So,
for example, Jibreel used to rehearse the Qur'an with him during the
nights of Ramadan. When Jibreel would visit him, he would intensify
the amount of Sadaqah that he would give. He(SAW) was the most
generous out of all people and Ramadan was the time when he was most
generous. In Ramadan, he would fill his time with Sadaqah, treating
people kindly, reciting Qur'an, performing Salah, remembering Allah,
and performing I'tikaaf." [Zaad Al Ma'aad]

Observers described the way Allah's Messenger(SAW) gave like Ar-Reeh
Al Mursalah, like the blessed wind. Why? The blessed wind, as they
knew it, was a wind that brought coolness to everyone – no one was
denied its blessing. The blessed wind, additionally, was not lazy in
bringing its goodness to the people. It would come swiftly to all.
This is how Rasul Allah (SAW) was described, and this is how our
service to humanity should be: swift and encompassing. Bi idhnillah
(Allah Willing).

Below are 10 ideas to and help make the most of Ramadan – before it
slips through our hands.

Idea one: Compound Your Siyaam!
If you told your financial broker that you just want to keep money in
the bank and save it, he would say, "You are wrong." "Invest it in the
stock market. That way your money will be compounded – you will earn
multiple times what you put in." So now I ask the question: Wouldn't
you love to get two times the reward of fasting Ramadan? How?

Zayd ibn Khaalid AlJuhanee narrates that the Prophet (SAW) said,
"Whoever gives a fasting person (food) to break his or her fast, he
(the one feeding) will get the reward equivalent to the (fasting
persons) reward – without diminishing anything from the reward of the
(fasting person)."

How do we do this? Ask any Muslim relief agency if they have a feed a
fasting person program. Subhan Allah, you may find that it only costs
$1 to feed a person! So, for $30 you could come out of Ramadan having
doubled your reward.

And, we should not forget the needy in our city. We think that in a
'modern' western country or city there are no needy people. That is
not true. There are many needy families that are waiting to be
discovered. Ask around and you will find a goldmine of people to help,
in your own backyard.

I speak about Washington, DC. If one was to have a food drive, all the
food could go to needy Muslim families in DC and still not be enough!
I've seen this with my own eyes. How blessed it would be to get the
youth that just hang out in the back of the Masjid during Taraweeh to
take on this task. Organize the collection of the food and distribute
it. It can happen! It just takes a leader with vision to set this up
for the youth and all the good people who want to make a difference.

Idea two: Operation Guide the Youth
Often in Ramadan, there are khaatirahs, words of wisdom, halaqahs and
reminders, all geared to the adults praying Taraweeh. The youth, it
seems, are being disrespectful by talking in the back of the masjid.

"Shhhhhsh!" someone shouts at them. "Listen or go outside (and we
prefer if you just go outside)!" So, quietly they sneak out of the
Masjid and chat and chill all Ramadan. How Eman boosting is that?
Remember, Allah commands that you protect your wife and children also.

Try this: Just like there are things for the adults, we could have
Ramadan activities and reminders geared specifically for the youth.
And, it need not be 'in' the Masjid. Let's say the youth like to chat
and chill outside in the parking lot. Why not organize the activity
there? Yes, on the basketball court or in the parking lot. Have a
5-minute Khatirah, play games with them, and give them some noble
projects to complete in Ramadan.

Again, making a difference like this needs a leader with vision, one
who recognizes that the youth are his or her responsibility. I pray
that person is you!

Idea Three: Turn-off-TV Month
Every parent knows that when they want their child to do well in their
studies they tell them, "no TV." If this is for Dunya, then how about
someone who wants to excel in Ramadan?

"Fasting and the Qur'an will come and testify on behalf of the 'Abd on
the Day of Resurrection. The Fasting will say: O my lord, I denied him
food and desires, so allow me to be a means for him to enter paradise.
And the Qu'ran will say: O my Lord, I denied him sleep at night so
allow me to be a means for him to enter Paradise. And (he will be
entered into paradise) because of those two." [Musnad Imam Ahmad]

Try this: Announce in your household that Ramadan is the official
turn-off-TV month. Be an example for others and do fun and rewarding
things instead. Visit people, take on a Ramadan feeding project,
increase yourself in knowledge, etc. Turn off the TV and turn on life.

Idea Four: Dua' Time
Ramadan is the month of making dua' to Allah, an essential compliment
to fasting. Rasul Allah (SAW) said, "There are three persons dua' that
will be accepted (by Allah). The fasting person, the oppressed one,
and the traveler."

Try this: Make a list of all your goals in life. Make a section for your
a) personal goals;
b) spiritual goals;
c) economic goals; and
d) contribution goals. Every day during Ramadan, take out your
list and make dua' to Allah to grant you the tawfeeq to accomplish
your goals. Insha Allah, you will attain your goals with hard work,
both during and after Ramadan.

Idea Five: Parent Appreciation Month
We all know that the one who wakes us up for Suhoor is our mother. I
know it was for me. If not for her alarm clock, her early morning
cooking, her motherly love to go and wake everyone up … well, let's
just say our iftars would have become our suhoors. If you are living
away from your parents, you know what I'm talking about. Remember the
hadith of the person who doesn't reach Ramadan with forgiveness? The
end part of the Hadith says they found their parents in old age and
they were not a means for him to enter Jannah!

So, why not announce it loud and clear this month, "Thank you Mum!
Thank you Dad!" Let's take care of them this month with extra calls,
extra hugs, and extra love.

Idea Six: Masjid Power Hour
During Ramadan, why not spend a few more moments in the Masjid before
taking off. This could be done after Fajr or after Asr. Sit back, grab
a Qur'an and remember Allah. As your time in the Masjid increases, bi
idhnillaah, your love and heart attachment will increase. Make this
your personal Masjid power hour.

Idea Seven: Bad Habit Buster
Many people already do this. They may have a smoking problem or a TV
addiction. When Ramadan comes around they say, "I'm going to train
myself to stop smoking or to stop watching excessive TV by abandoning
it throughout Ramadan."

So, you don't have a smoking problem huh? Everyone has a bad habit and
everyone has a recurring sin they pray they could desist from. Make
Ramadan the training month by telling yourself to go without this sin
for the entire month. Then, if Allah grants one Tawfeeq to complete
the month, one should continue to pray to Allah to keep them away from
the sin after Ramadan.

Idea Eight: The Gift Groove
Have you ever noticed how beloved a bottle of perfume is when it is
handed out by a little four year old Muslim? Everyone loves a gift.

Why not take this a step forward? Go to your local Islamic bookstore
and request a bulk purchase of some beneficial Islamic materials,
something in the $1 range. Then, hand it out to everyone that comes to
your masjid. Bi idhnillaah, you will find for the little effort one
may put, people all throughout Ramadan will be learning from the gift.

Idea Nine: Ramadan Muslims, Convert!
It is true that on the first day of Ramadan, the number of Muslims in
the local Masjid multiplies considerably. And, it is a sad moment on
the first day after Ramadan that the Masjid attendance drops
significantly. This idea is Operation 'No More Ramadan Muslims'. We
want people all year long!

A man came to Ibn Abbas while he was doing I'tikaaf in the masjid and
asked him for his assistance. So, Ibn Abbas stood to leave and people
around him warned him, 'but you are in I'tikaaf'. He replied, "To
assist my brother in fulfilling his need is more beloved to me than to
perform I'tikaaf for 2 months in the Masjid of Rasul Allah (SAW)." Try
this: Make a 'compassion crew' that reaches out specifically to
Ramadan Muslims. Extra special attention is showered on them and roles
of responsibility are delegated to them so that they can participate
more in the Masjid. Invite them to special Iftars where they are the
center of attention.

With this extra attention and responsibility, bi idhnillaah, every
month will be Ramadan for them and the masaajid will be full all year.

Idea Ten: Home Halaqah
Muslim families often keep their worship for the Masjid, but why not
make Muslim family time at home. It could work like this: After
Taraweeh or Asr, the family gathers together for 15 minutes. There are
many things you could do in your Halaqah, the main thing is that you
set time aside for it.

For example, each family member may recite a few verses of Qur'an. Or,
one of the kids can read a story of the Sahaabah so that all family
members can be reminded. Or, each family member can speak about the
blessings of Allah upon them and what they have in their lives for
which they are thankful.

Just 15 minutes for the home Halaqah. For the entire family, bi
idhnillah, it will be a spring of Eman.

Ten ideas to enhance your Ramadan:
Idea one: Compound Your Siyaam!
Idea two: Operation Guide the Youth
Idea Three: Turnoff TV Month
Idea Four: Dua' Time
Idea Five: Parent Appreciation Month
Idea Six: Masjid Power Hour
Idea Seven: Bad Habit Buster
Idea Eight: The Gift Groove
Idea Nine: Ramadan Muslims, Convert!
Idea Ten: Home Halaqah

The past saw Muslims that spent their nights of Ramadan awake praying
to Allah. It saw days where people, for the sake of Allah, went
thirsty.

They knew that this season may never return on them and they heard
Allah's words "Ayyaman Ma'doodaat"– a limited number of days. Don't
let the sand of Ramadan slip away.

--
Please remember us in your dua
Wa assalam
Abdul Ghafoor

[An e-mail i recieved today from this brother, who runs lutonmuslims.co.uk]