Eid: Now and Then

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Another Ramadhaan completed and another flood of tears to mark my heartache at its end. Ramadhaan represents so much to me, with a complete change of focus and atmosphere in our household, mashaa'Allah. Simply the lack of having to prepare food during the day leaves me so much time for ibaadah and tarbiyyah, mashaa'Allah. Al hamdul'Illah for the blessing of another Ramadhaan and dua' for us all to see many more - ameen.

This morning I awoke at 2:45 a.m. and started readying the children to leave the house before fajr prayer. We were blessed with praying Fajr at Masjid al Quba, where the imam recited Surat ar-Rahmaan mashaa'Allah. Then we sat there afterwards reciting the takbeer, watching as hundreds of people arrived for the Eid prayer. We were offered sweets, dates, and water, mashaa'Allah. We watched the edges of the clouds turn pastel shades of marshmallow fluff as the sun rose, then we prayed and listened to the khutbah.  Afterwards, we returned home, and had juicy watermelon and hot tameez and adas (fresh tanoor-baked wholewheat bread and tasty lentils) for breakfast.  The children spent the morning looking at the books they were gifted for Eid and making crafts from them. They were given their tins and jars of homemade Eid goodies and spent the morning buzzing around excitedly as the adults took some rest. After Dhuhr prayer, a light lunch of homemade pita bread and sticky sweet rolls, with minted soft cheese and torshy (crisp pickled vegetables) was enjoyed. Afternoon tea is planned for after Asr and after Maghrib we will go out for dinner inshaa'Allah.  Tomorrow, after Fajr, we set off for Yanbu with its beautiful beach on the Red Sea, staying for the night until the third day of Eid. Everyone can enjoy the blue sea, fresh fish, and relaxing atmosphere inshaa'Allah. Such is my Eid now that I have a family - a husband, children, and as a special gift this year, my father.

It is such a contrast to the Eids gone by, when I was single and living in Bahrain. Initially, I found myself sitting at home after the Eid prayer all alone with nothing to do and no-one to visit. All my friends were married, busy with family and extended family on the days of Eid. I just didn't fit in. Then, one year I met an older sister, her daughter and her two small grandsons. I also met the same year three other sisters who were single and in a similar situation to me, just left hanging around with nothing to look forward to at Eid time. An idea came to me and, al hamdu l'Illah, it became a tradition that continued until my departure from Bahrain and marriage in 2002. I arranged to meet all the sisters (or take them if they weren't driving) at the Eid prayer. Then afterwards, I invited them to huge buffet breakfast in an hotel - sometimes the Sheraton, sometimes the Gulf Hotel. We would take a long, leisurely breakfast, which usually turned into brunch, and then go for a walk along the corniche. Before going our separate ways, I would give out plates of homemade treats and gifts. Eid went from being something dreaded to something anticipated and filled with barakah, mashaa'Allah. Still, over 10-15 years later, those same friends still send me e-mails telling me how much they miss those Eids, wa al hamdul'Illahi Rabbil aal ameen!

Must seem like I'm blabbering a bit today, but I guess what I want to point out and remember myself is that Eid is what you make it...not just for yourself, but for others. Now the days are gone when I have to find solutions for Eids alone, but they aren't gone for everyone. For those of you who are single, without Muslim family to celebrate or gather with, remember that there are others who are in the same boat. Plan something special together. It's not about how extravagant or expensive it is, it's about being together and enjoying the blessings of good companionship and support on these days that Allah has given us as a time to celebrate following Ramadhaan and/or Hajj. Eid is for everyone and everyone should FEEL Eid, bi ithn Illah.

As always, may Allah accept our fasting, our worship, our dua', and pardon our omissions and errors during this Ramadhaan and bless us to benefit and improve from many more - ameen.

Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum!

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 30 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 30 Questions

An-Naba:   

1. What will the kuffar say on The Day?

 An-Nazi'at: 

1. What ayah tells about the angels who take the souls of the people going to hellfire called (in Arabic).
2. What about the angels that take the souls going to Jennah?
3. Who is racing and for what?

'Abasa: 

1. Who did the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam frown at?
2. Who did he pay special attention to?
3. Which ayah tells us that the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, can only give the message but not guide anyone to Islam?
4. What will be on the faces of the disbelievers?

At-Takweer: 

1. What are the first 13 ayaat describing? 
2. What does Allah mean when He asks, "So where are you going?"

Al-Infitar: 

1. Which ayah tells us that the people of hellfire will stay there forever?

Al-Mutaffifeen: 

1. What is the record of the wrongdoers in?
2. What is the record of the righteous in?
3. Who will have the last laugh?

Al-Inshiqaq: 

1. What does ayah 6 mean?

Al-Buruj: 

1. Did the burning of the people of the trench happen during the time of Prophet Muhammad? Give your proof.

At-Tariq: 

1. Why does Allah tell us to leave the disbelievers for a while?

Al-'Ala: 

1. What will the wretched one do?
2. Who will succeed?

Al-Ghashiyah: 

1. What is unsuitable speech?

 Al-Fajr: 

1. Why did Allah send upon the Aad, Iram, Thamud, and Firawn great punishment? 
2. What does it mean, that people use up inheritance, "devouring it altogether"?

Al-Balad: 

1. Who is the father?
2. What is the difficult pass?

Ash-Shams: 

1. Which ayah proves that we can tell what is bad and good in ourselves?

Al-Lail: 

1. What are the conditions of giving wealth so that it purifies you?

Ad-Duha: 

1. What reminders does Allah give the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, that He has always taken care of him.

Ash-Sharh: 

1. What does Allah promise us? 
2. What should we do when we have completed our daily tasks?

At-Teen: 

1. What happens to man when Allah returns him to the lowest of low?

Al-'Alaq: 

1. What do the angels of Hell do?

Al-Qadr: 

1. What is sent down on Lailat al Qadr?
2. Which nights to we seek it?

Al-Bayyinah: 

1. What was everyone commanded to do?

 Az-Zalzalah: 

1. Where will the people depart?

Al-'Aadiyat: 

1. What are man's bad qualities? How does he prove them?

Al-Qari'ah: 

1. What do we do in our home to help us think whether our scales are heavy or light?

At-Takathur: 

1. What does it mean that we will be asked about pleasure?

Al-'Asr: 

1. How can we avoid being in loss?

Al-Humazah: 

1. Which ayah talks about being selfish and stingy?

Al-Fil: 

1. Who led the army with the elephant?

Quraysh: 

1. What city is the home of the Quraysh?

Al-Ma'un:  

1.  Who are not really worried about their prayers?

Al-Kawthar: 

1. What is al-kawthar?

Al-Kafirun: 

1. What is the special benefit of reciting this surah?

An-Nasr: 

1. What victory is this surah talking about?

Al-Masad: 

1. Who was Abu Lahab? 
2. Why is his wife going to be punished as well?

Al-Ikhlas: 

1. Name two special benefits of this surah.

Al-Falaq & An-Nas: 

1. Which times of day is it sunnah to recite these surahs? 
2. Why do we recite them?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 29 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 29 Questions

Al Mulk:   

1. Why did Allah create life and death?

Al Qalam: 

1. Who did Allah forbid the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, to obey? 
2. When the companions swore to cut the fruit in their garden in the early morning without exception, what does that mean?
   
3. What is the situation of the people who didn't pray/prostrate to Allah in this life, on Yawm al Qiyamah?
   

Al Haqqah: 

1. What is another name for Al Haqqah? .
2. What does it mean when the one who is given his account in his left hand says he wishes his death had been the decisive one? 

Al Maarij: 

1. Who will be in gardens honored? 

Nuh: 

1. What are the different ways that Nuh, alayhi salaam, invited his people to Islam? (These ayaat are scattered throughout the surah.) 
2. What dua' did Nuh, alayhi salaam, make against his people? Why? 

Al-Jinn: 

1. What did the Jinn do before the time of the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam? 

Al-Muzammil: 

1. Why is it better to pray at night (tahajjud)? 
2. What does it mean, "loan to Allah a goodly loan"? 

Al-Muddathir: 

1. Who is Allah talking about when He says, Leave Me with the one I created alone."?
2. What did he deliberate about? 
3. What will Allah do to him? 

Al Qiyamah:   

1. What etiquette do we learn about reciting Quran?.
2. Which ayah/ayaat tell us that after the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam memorized the Qur'an, Allah made it's meanings clear to him? 
3. Who does Allah say woe to? 

Al Insan: 

1. What is this surah mainly telling us about? 
2. When does Allah tell us to pray? 

Al Mursalat: 

1. What is the main message of this surah? (Please do not write the ayah that repeats itself, write something in your own words - no more than one or sentences.) 

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 28 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 28 Questions

1. Is is liked by Allah for men to pronounce thihar (a type of divorce common before Islam) on their wives? If they take the pronunciation of thihar back, what do they have to do to make up for it?
2. What do we learn about private conversations?
3. What is the situation of people who take as companions and friends people Allah is angry with?
4. What does it mean that the liars "think they are standing on something"?
5. If you like people who are against Allah and the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, are you a real believer?  What if they are your family members? Give the proof.
6. Who did Allah expel from their homes and why?
7. What does Allah command the believers?
8. Which ayah/ayaat in this surah, when recited in the morning or evening, have the reward of 70,000 angels praying for the reciter for the day or night?
9. Can a Muslim woman be married to a non-Muslim man? Give your proof.
10. Who are we told not to make our allies?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 27 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 27 Questions

1. Why are we here?
2. What did Allah advise the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam?
3. Who brought the revelation (the Qur'an) to the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam? How is he described?
4. Will the angels' intercession (asking Allah for forgiveness) help us?
5. What does it mean, "And you laugh and do not weep, while you are proudly sporting" mean?
6. What should we do?
7. What ayah is proof against anyone who says it is hard to memorize the Quran?
8. Do the salt and fresh water oceans mix?
9. Do we get coral and pearls from the salt water sea or the fresh water sea?
10. Why won't men and jinn be asked about their sin on that Day?
11. If you want good, what do you have to do?
12. Will many of us be forerunners?
13. Will many of us have our account in our right hand?
14. Will many of us have our account in our left hand?
15. What will be the reward for each of the above categories of people?
16. What do these names of Allah mean?  The Ascendant and The Intimate
17. What is the life of this world?
18. What should we compete with each other for?
19. What is the reward for fearing Allah and believing in His Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 26 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 26 Questions

1. What is the Prophet's - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam - challenge to the unbelievers?
2. What book from Allah came before the Qur'an?
3. Who are the ones Allah will accept the best of their deeds and overlook their misdeeds? What dua' do those people make?
4. What is the situation of those who say "uff" to their parents?
5. What does Allah say about the people who are killed fighting for Islam? What is their reward?
6. Why is it that some people sat with the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and listened to him, but couldn't understand what he said?
7. Who does Allah expose? How can we know those people? What will Allah do to them?
8. What is Surah Al Fath about?
9. What manners are we taught about speaking?
10. What are the believers told to do if an unbeliever tells them some news?
11. Why shouldn't we make fun of others?
12. What are we told about calling people nicknames? Do you use follow Allah's command regarding this? Think of one example of a name you have called someone that isn't nice.
13. What are we told about assuming bad things about someone else?
14. What does it mean, when the two receivers receive?
15. Do the angels only record what we do?
16. What are the driver and the witness?
17. What are some of the actions of the righteous?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 24 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 24 Questions

1. When does Allah take our souls?
2. What makes the hearts of the unbelievers turn away? What makes them happy?
3. What does Allah tell the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, to tell the people who have done sins?
4. What happens when the Horn is blown the first time? What happens when it is blown the second time?
5. What do the Angels say to Allah about the believers?
6. Will the wrongdoers be able to see the fire in their graves? Give your proof.
7. Which was the bigger job, creating man or creating the heavens and the earth?
8. What does Allah say to us all?
9. If the unbelievers say that they believe in Allah after they see the punishment they will have, will it be accepted? Give your proof.
10. What did Allah create in 4 days?
11. How long did it take for Allah to create the seven heavens?
12. Who is best in speech?
13. How do we erase our bad deeds?
14. How do we protect ourselves from, and repel, shaytaan?
15. How do we know that the Quran is protected by Allah?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 23 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 23 Questions

1. What did the man advise the People of the City?
2. When the unbelievers face Allah, what will speak and tell what they did in their life?
3. What happens the the companion of the believer who asked if they really believed they would be rewarded after death?
4. The matter of the sheep, why did David (Dawood) seek forgiveness after ruling between the two men?
5. What did Allah tell Dawood about judging?
6. For what quality did Allah chose Ibrahim, Ishaaq, Yaqoob, Ismail, Elisha, and Dhul Kifl?
7. What is the Quran?
8. What are the two reactions and emotions of the believers to the Quran?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 22 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 22 Questions

1. What does Allah command the wives of the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam?
2. What were the manners for going to the home of the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, for a meal?
3. Was anyone allowed to marry the wives of the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, after he died?
4. Which ayah commands us to say, "salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam" after the Prophet's name?
5. Who are commanded to bring down over themselves their outer garments? What does that mean?
6. What is the "Trust"? Why is man unjust and ignorant? Why did Allah give man the Trust?
7. Do the Jinn really know the unseen?
8. Does Allah accept the intercession of the angels and the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, for everyone?
9. If your father, mother, sister, brother, or child asks you to take the blame for some of their sins,  can you?
10. Who can we warn?
11. What advice did the man give to the people of the city?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 21 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 21 Questionss

1. What is the example of those who take friends and helpers other than Allah?
2. What does prayer do? Does it do those things for the people who don't believe or don't pray properly?
3. What are some of Allah's signs? 
4. What won't increase with Allah?
5. What are the multipliers?
6. What advice did Luqman give to his son?
7. How does Allah describe only the believers? 
8. What is the Prophet more worthy of that ourselves?
9. What is the best example for us to follow? (copy the ayah) 

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 20 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 20 Questions

1. Describe the Day the Horn will be blown?
2. How did Firaun plan to see Allah?
3. What did the people who believed in Allah before Prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam,  say when they heard the Qur'an?
4. Did the Prophet, salla, Allahu alayhi wa sallam, guide people to Islam?
5. Was Qarun a believer? Give your proof.
6. What was the total number of years Nuh was sent to his people?
7. What are the messengers supposed to do? Will they be blamed if their people don't believe?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 19 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 19 Questions

1. What will the kuffar do and say on Yawm al Qiyamah?
2. What did the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, say about his people? What does it mean?
3. What are the full  descriptions of the servants of the Most Merciful?
4. What is the Chamber?
5. What punishment was sent to those who rejected Prophet Musa, alayhi salaam?
6. What punishment was sent to those who rejected Prophet Nuh, alayhi salaam?
7. What punishment was sent to those who rejected Prophet Lut, alayhi salaam?
8. What punishment was sent to those who rejected Prophet Shu'ayb, alayhi salaam?
9. When will the mujrimoon believe in the Qur'an?
10. What does Allah say about those who don't believe in the hereafter?
11. What was the dua' of Prophet Sulaiman, alayhi salaam?
12. What was the Queen of Sheba's reaction, when Sulaiman sent her the letter of invitation to Islam?
13. What did the Thamud think of Salih, alayhi salaam?
14. What did Salih, alayhi salaam,  explain to them?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 18 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 18 Questions

1. What did the rich people of Prophet Hud, alayhi salaam, believe about life?
2. What did Allah tell His messengers?
3. At the time of death, when the disbelievers ask Allah for another chance, do they mean it? Give your proof.
4. What are the manners for visiting others?
5. What does Allah mean when he says that the believing men and women should reduce some of their vision?
6. The believing women are told not to expose their adornment. What is the meaning of "their adornment?"
7. Who are the believing women allowed to show their beauty to?
8. Do all Allah's creatures pray to Him? Give your proof.
9. What do the true believers say?
10. What are the three times of privacy for adults?  Who has to ask permission before entering your room/home at those times?
11. When children have reached puberty, when do they have to ask permission before entering upon adults?
12. What are the manners of the believers when they meet with the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam?
13. What was Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, commanded by Allah to say to those who disbelieve in the Qur'an?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 17 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 17 Questions

1. When new messages and reminders come from Allah, what is the reaction of most people?
2. What has Allah done about all the cities who were unjust (didn't believe in his Message)?
3. What did Allah make every living thing from?
4. What was Ibrahim's lie?
5. What did Allah give Lut?
    
6. What did the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, say to invite mankind to Islam?
7. What did he say to those who rejected his invitation?
8. What will be the state of the people in the final Hour?
9. What are the people of Jennah guided to in this life?
10. During the time of which prophet was Hajj to the Ka'aba established?
11. Who are the humble?
12. What did shaytaan do whenever a prophet or messenger spoke?
13. What did Allah do in response to shaytaan's actions? Why?(there are 2 reasons)
14. Did Allah only call the followers of Prophet Muhammad Muslims? Give your proof.

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 16 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 16 Questions

1. Why did Khidr damage the poor men's ship?
2. Why did Khidr kill the boy?
3. Why did Khidr rebuild the wall without asking for any payment?
4. Could Jesus (Isa, alayha salaam) speak when he was a baby?
5. Which prophets (alayhum as salaam) named in this surah? Write them in the order they are written.
6. Why did Allah send us the Qur'an?
7. What did Allah command the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, about the Quran?
8. What will happen to the person who turns away from Allah?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 15 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 15 Questions

1. What does it mean when Allah tells us that for every person he has imposed his fate upon his neck?
2. What will be said to us when we are given our record?
3. What does it mean when Allah says, "Whoever should desire the immediate"? What do those people get in the end?
4. Does Allah give to the people who want the enjoyments of this world and also the people who are striving for the hereafter (Jennah)?
5. How should you treat parents?
6. What does the expression "uff" mean?
7. What is the dua' to make for parents?
8. What does Allah say about the wasteful?
9. What will Allah do to every city before the day of resurrection?
10. Can shaytaan have any power over the true believers?
11. What can those who pray at night (tahajjud) expect from Allah?
12. Who did Allah command the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, to be patient with and who should not to obey?
13. What happened to the man who thought his garden would stay alive forever?

Ramadhaan 2012: Juz 14 Questions

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Juz 14 Questions

1. When will the disbelievers wish they had been Muslims?
2. What things has Allah given us so that we may be guided?
3. Why did Allah send the Qur'an down to the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam?
4. What ayaat in this surah tell us about milk and honey?
5. Why did Allah give us hearing and vision and intellect?
6. What does Allah order us to do and what does He forbid us to do?
7. Is it better to punish someone who has harmed you or not? Give your proof.
8. Who is Allah with?