Eid Mubarak—Taqaba Lallahu Minna wa Minkum—InshaAllah

Some Ramadaan Reflections

We were all better prepared for Ramadaan this year, as compared to the past Alhamdolillah, after studying almost twenty six Juz of the Quraan.
Alhamdolillah, I felt I had more Khushu in salah and enjoyed the extra, rather than finding it a burden.

The reminder about fixing a time for Tasbeehaat and Zikr by Ustazah was very helpful. Going and coming back from the Masjid, as well as while cooking and cleaning etc. was spent mostly in Zikr.

Everything got done Alhamdolillah. I made time for reading the Quraan as well as the school and house work.

Going to the Masjid for Salatul Taraweeh was beneficial, but I wish we would have more Huffaaz in our community, who do not need the Mushaf in front of them, but are comfortable with a few others like them to correct, if the need arises. I am aware of the Rukhsa of reading from the Mushaf in Nafli Salahs, but it definitely affects the Khushu and is not preferred or recommended. What ever comes from within----touches the heart more and helps soften it---both for the Imaam as well as the Muqtadi. For myself I find that looking where I am supposed to look in Qayaam---the place of sajood, definitely helps in khushu. Even when people around me are flipping pages and not positioning their hands where they should be, or put the Mushaf where it should not be , I get distracted.

We all know, and say that Ramadaan is a month of training, but how long does the affect of Ramadaan last? I think individual Ebaadah is very important too, during this month, as we are on our own after Ramadaan.

Making time to read Quraan is important through out the year. Memorizing it on a regular basis, so that next Ramadaan we are able to read more in our salahs.

We should train ourselves for the next eleven months, so that our Akhlaq, Salahs, Quraan, Zikr and Ebaadah are better next Ramadaan. What we achieved during this month----we should carry on and continue, as well as keep on adding more. With the end of Ramadaan, I already find a decline in the zeal and urge to do more and better. So this is the time to make an effort to maintain whatever good we were able to accomplish during this very precious month, and built on it----rather than go back to square one, and wait for the next Ramadaan to get us started again---who knows if we are even going to there for the next Ramadaan.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala accept our Siyaam and Qayaam, and keep us steadfast on our Deen always, Ameen.
-Fakhri Hameed (Ottawa)