Eid Mubarak

Taqabal Allahu minna wa minkum - May Allah accept it from us and from you. I wish you and your families the very best on the blessed occasion of Eid.  

Top 8 ways to boost your Ramadan spirit this year

1. Dua 

Ask Allah to make this the most awesome, spiritually uplifting Ramadan you've ever had. Only He can make it happen and relying on Him completely is one step in boosting our spirits. 

2. Quiet your mind, turn off the... 

TV, internet, radio, cell phone, pager, iPod, etc. No, not all day, but for at least 10 minutes a day. Find a quiet place, close your eyes and connect with God. At first, your mind will swirl with the useless and not-so-useless info in your head. But force it to think of three things in these few minutes: 

a. Allah 

b. your purpose in life 

c. are you living your life on purpose? 

Do this every day of Ramadan if you can. If that's not possible, try it at least three times a week. 

3. Learn about great Muslims 

Even if you've read it before, read or listen to Abdul Wahid Hamid's Companions of the Prophet again this Ramadan. Read about or listen to the story of a Companion daily. Well-written and short, this is a wonderful way to see how other Muslims retained their strength of faith against incredible odds. A sure-fire spirituality booster. 

4. Connect to the Quran 

The Quran is God's way of talking to us. It's one of the most important keys to spiritual upliftment. This Ramadan, connect to the Quran in a new way. If you already read Quran regularly, perhaps you can choose a new theme to focus on or select a Surah you haven't read in a while. If you don't read Quran regularly, maybe you can read just two minutes of Quran a day, reading only from the first page you encounter when you open up the Book. 
In addition, try to keep a Quranic journal to record your reflections, questions, thoughts, etc. about what you've read. 

5. Take care of others 

Whether it's someone who's away from their family, a person who's having problems with a spouse or their kids or a fellow student struggling with their grades, make an extra effort this Ramadan to help others out. The spiritual boost you get in return is well worth it. 

6. Feed the hungry 

While your stomach shrieks in protest, give that panhandler some change, volunteer at a soup kitchen, get involved with your local food pantry or make a couple of bag lunches to give to the hungry you meet on your way to school or work. 

7. Give up one lifelong bad habit 

Ask yourself what some of your defining traits are. Then decide which is the worst of them. Is it a hot temper? Apathy? Laziness? Impatience? Whatever it is, use this Ramadan to put an end to it. Practice the opposite of your bad habit every day until the end of the month. By then Insha Allah, you'll look back and be amazed at what a change you've made for the better. 

8. Use those Nights of Power 

Before the ten nights make a list of things you would like to make dua for so that you don't miss anything similar to what you would do when going hajj and standing the day of arafah.

The last ten nights or Ramadan aren't called the Nights of Power for nothing. Use these precious times for deep, heartfelt Dua (supplication), self-analysis, reflection and serious thought.

http://wise-web.org/index.php

Ramadhan activities for kids

The 'American Muslim Mom' website have collected and put together some really great Ramadhan activity links for children. Be sure to check it out.

This should keep the kids busy over the current summer holidays, inshaAllaah!

Nasheed - My Mum is Amazing by Zain Bhikha

Ramadan Mubarak

Click and scroll your mouse over the image below:

Islamic Greeting Card by Alhabib

Ramadan health guide: a guide to healthy fasting

This is a pdf guide produced by Communities in Action with the support and development from the Dept of Health. It has some general tips for a healthy Ramadhan - Click on the link below to download

Ramadan health guide: a guide to healthy fasting

Ramadhan Chocolate Countdown Calendar

I bought this Ramadhan chocolate countdown calendar from Tesco's. I'm sure it will go down a treat with children during ramadhan. 

Everyday there is a ramadhan question to answer before opening up a chocolate.

This product is endorsed by the Islamic Cultural Centre, London, and a percentage of the proceeds from the sale are donated to them.

Getting the most out of Ramadhan

As we will soon be entering the blessed month of Ramadhan, I thought I would share some usefull tools I found along the years that help get the most out of Ramadhan.

1. Al-Kauthar Institute - Month of Mercy Ramadhan Checklist

2. Tayyibun Institute -Ramadan Preperation Course Pack

Let us all try and make the most of Ramadhan and come closer to Allaah (swt) and not be of those who fall under the hadeeth...."Perhaps a person fasting will receive nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst" (Ibn Maajah)

Three Groups of People:

1. Those who fast in Ramadhan only because everyone else does, and they'll get in trouble with their family if they don't; they don't really care about getting the maximum benefit out of Ramadhan. These people gain nothing except hunger, thirst, and unsatisfied desires.
2. Those who hate Ramadhan, will not fast/ will only pretend to fast. They will be punished for their hatred of this blessed and beloved month.
3. Those who love Ramadhan, can't wait for it, prepare for it the way one prepares for the arrival of a loved one; spend their days fasting in a way that Allah is pleased with them, spends their nights in tahajjud and other 'ebaadah. They were good people before Ramadhan, and are even better during Ramadhan. Their reward with Allah is abundant and is so great only Allah knows how much reward they receive.
   
   

Also as one shaykh put very nicely in a talk I recently heard (Preparing for Ramadhan – Yasir Qadhi) we all rise in our levels of emaan and actions in Ramadhan, the key and the purpose of Ramadhan is to try and increase every year. So if you climb 10 levels in emaan and actions (eg, read 10 pages quran a day) then make sure after Ramadhan you don't go fall down to a level of zero. At worst go down to level 1 (reading 1 page of quran a day)

We ask Allaah (swt) by all his beautiful names & lofty attributes firstly to give us the opportunity to witness Ramadhan and to be of those who use to increase in our closeness to him & save our selves from the fire innak ant as-sami ud-dua (verily he is the hearer of our dua's). Ameen

Printable Dua

Here's some useful printable duas from the islam4parents website, which you can hang up around the home for children. These printable duas include leaving/entering home, before/after eating, before sleep/waking.

I've laminated mine and put them up, although I have a baby and he is no where near the age to read - it is a reminder for both myself and my husband!

A useful dua sheet for expectant mothers is also available to download. I compiled a dua sheet very similar to this while I was pregnant, so alhumdulillaah this one is available online for everyone to benefit.

Heaven Under Your Feet - Pregnancy for Muslim Women

I came across this book whilst i was in a bookshop recently, and I wish it had been published before I was pregnant!

I crammed myself with info from western websites/videos about the whole preganancy/labour/birth and it would have been nice to get some islamic perspective on this major topic. There are three chapters in the book, You, Your baby and Labour & Birth. I like the fact that this book has duas in the appendix for this unique and special moment in your life that are relevant to you, your baby and the labour.

In another section of the book, the author, Umm Hasan bint Salim, discusses a list of useful islamic items to pack for the hospital, which includes zam zam - again something i wish i could have packed! 'The water of zamzam is whatever it has been drunk for' (Ibn Majah). Whatever dua we make before drinking zam zam is granted. Therefore we can make dua for pain relief, easy birth, relieve newborn of any problems after birth etc.

This book is packed with great islamic advice on pregnancy & birth, and I would recommend all new expectant mothers to purchase it.

'Heaven Under Your Feet' is available from all good Islamic bookshops and through selected online islamic stores.

Sisters Magazine

Currently in its third year of print, Sisters Magazine, for Muslim women, is becoming popular amongst sisters and mothers for its content of lifestyle articles from an Islamic perspective.

'Sisters' is truly gorgeous. Its published quarterly and packed with inspirational articles ranging from spirituality to cooking with beautiful images to compliment.

I love curling up on the sofa after I've put the baby to bed or sometimes in between household chores. This is one of my escapism items, my favourite parts of the magazine being the 'inspiration' and 'family' sections. Their 'tastes' sections is also mouth watering!

The latest Summer 2009 edition is out now, to subscribe or view online articles visit the website Sisters Magazine