Mosque for the Praising of Allah

Fasting During the Month of Shawwal

Abu Ayub al-Ansari narrated: Allah ’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:

“He who fasts Ramadan, and six days of Shawwaal, it will be (in terms of rewards) as if he fasted a whole year.”  [Reported by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Ibn Majah]

We encourage everyone that can, to take advantage of the extra blessings that can be gained by following this Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (SaW)

In commenting on the above mentioned hadeeth, As-San`ani said in Subul us-Salaam: “If the thirty days of Ramadan fasting are assimilated with the six days of fasting in Shawwaal, it altogether makes 36 days. According to Shariah, each virtue is rewarded ten times. Therefore, if we multiply 36 with 10, it makes 360, a number which equals the days of a year. Some scholars are of the opinion that these six days of fasting in Shawwaal must be completed in a continuous order right after the end of Ramadan. Some believe that is enough to merely complete six days of fasting in Shawwaal (in any order, either successive or with intervals), an opinion which is deemed to be correct.”

Perhaps it is proper for us to pray these days on Mondays and Thursdays, as in that case we would be following another Sunnah: `Aisha, radhiallaahu `anhaa, narrated: “The Messenger of Allah , sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to fast Mondays and Thursdays”. [an-Nasa'i, Saheeh]

If it is easier for one to fast on weekends, then in that case one would still be following another Sunnah at the same time: Umm Salama, radhiallaahu `anhaa, narrated: Allah ’s Messenger used to fast mostly on Saturday and Sunday, and he used to say: “They are the festival days for the mushrikeen, and I like to act contrary to them.” [an-Nasa’i, Ibn Khuzaimah, who graded it Saheeh, and Ibn Hajar agreed]

But, again, this fast is not obligatory, rather only recommended. There is reward for whoever does it, and no blame upon anyone who doesn’t.

We at the Masjid Alhamdulillah would like to thank everyone who Sponsored and/or Donated to Iftar held everyday at this Masjid during this Month of Ramadan (1430).

We also would like thank the local Restaurants for sponsoring suhoor.

Thank you also to the people who helped with the daily Ramadan set up and clean up.

May Allah reward you all for your generous contributions – Ameen

Introduction: Please find below Fatwa on Hilal Sighting from the Muslim World League in Saudia Arabia. We at the Islamic Council of New England, Imams Shura Council (website) with the best of intention will make effort to comply with the Quran and Sunnah (as well as relying on Fatwa and Scholars from around the world to increase our understanding on the matters in hand).

This Fatwa document is available in Arabic and english and you can download it by clicking here.

Below is the English text of the Fatwa.

Fatwa Muslim World League 1981 Hilal Sighting Locality

Muslim World League – The 4th Meeting of the Council
From 7th of Rabi Al-Thani-l?”1 of Rabi Al-Thani 1401 Hijri
11th of Feb-21st of Feb 1981

All Praise be to Allah alone, and peace and salutations be on the one whom after
there is no Nabi (Prophet), there after (Amma Baa’d):
The Islamic Jurisprudence Council has studied the issue of Difference in Horizons
(local sighting) and establishing sighting criteria on it. The Council concluded Islam
is basically an easy and accommodating religion; this is what individuals with sound
nature, appropriate intellect follow since it yields benefits. In the matter of Moon
sighting Islam established its visual sighting over calculation as proven by the clear
evidences from the Shariah. Also, it adopted differences in horizons (local sighting)
since it is easier for the ordinary Muslims to follow, although that is the implication
upon detailed examination of the proofs. As for the promoters of unification of the
beginning of the fasting month and its end is concerned they are in opposition of what
is established by Shariah and sound intellect.

As far as the opposition to Shariah, the Scholars of hadith have narrated the hadith of
Kuraib which is
(Book 006, Number 2391added by translator)
Kuraib reported that Umm Fadl, daughter ofHarith, sent him (Fadl, L e. her son)
to Mu’awiya in Syria. I (Fadl) arrived in Syria, and did the needful for her. It was
there in Syria that the month of Ramadan commenced. I saw the new moon (of
Ramadan) on Friday. I then came back to Medina at the end of the month.
Abdullah b. ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) asked me (about the new moon of
Ramadan) and said: When did you see it? I said.: We saw it on the night of Friday.
He said: (Did) you see it yourself? -I said: Yes, and the people also saw it and they
observed fast and Mu’awiya also observed fast, whereupon he said: But we saw it
on Saturday night. So we would continue to observe fast till we complete thirty
(lasts) or we see it (the new moon ofShawwal). I said: Is the sightidg of the moon
by Mu’awiya not valid for you? He said: No; this is how the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) has commanded us.
Imam Nawawi Classified this hadith in his commentary on Sahih Muslim under the
heading “chapter for every country there is its own sighting, if the moon is sighted in
a country that sighting is not acceptable for far away countries” and none of the
authors of the six books of hadith who narrated the same hadith deviated from this
methodology in their classification for this hadith like Tirmidhi, Abu Daud and Al-
Nasa’i.

And Islam established the moon sighting by vision over all other means, because of
what was narrated by Ibn Omar in his hadith in Bukhari and Muslim.
(Book 006, Number 2363 added by the translator)

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah ’s Messenger (may
peace be upon him) as saying in connection with Ramadan: Do not fast till you see
the new moon, and do not breakfast till you see it; but if the weather is cloudy
estimate about it.

This hadith established the reason for the obligation as sighting, so it (the Moon) may
be sighted in Makkah and Madina while it may not be sighted in any other country,
the time in other countries may be day instead of night, so how then we obligate the
other people with Fasting or Iftaar? All the scholars from all Madhahib have
concluded that “the difference of horizons (local Sighting)” is the answer, near a great
majority of them, so much so that Ibn Abd Al-Bar (great Maliki Jurist) narrated an
Ijmaa (Judicial Consensus) that moon sighting between far places like Khurasaan
(Asia now) and Andalus (Spain now) is not considered and every country has its own
specific sighting. A majority of the Books of Most Schools of Jurists (madhahib) are
full of opinions in favor of “the difference of Horizons” because of the vast evidence
in shariah in that regard, if one were to look at the books of Fiqh they will conclude
the same and they will heal any contempt for this issue in their hearts.

Common sense dictates, local moon sighting is something that the scholars do not
differ on, because it is obvious, and hence the intellect concludes the same. This is
the same for the Common Sense and the Shariah’s convergence on the times of prayer
as well. So if one was to be an observer of the Natural order and reality of the
differences in times he will conclude the same.

Hence the Council concludes in light of the above:

1-There is no need to peruse unification of Moon sighting and Festivals in the Islamic
world. Because this pursuit will not guarantee the ummah’s unification as the
promoters of unification of Moon sighting and Festivals imagine.

2- That the matter of moon sighting be left to the Muslim countries and their Judicial
and Juristic Councils, because that has priority as well as will yield the most benefit.

3-The only guarantee which will benefit the Muslims in unifying the ummah in its
matters and issues is that they agree to abide by the Quran and Sunnah in all of their
matters.

And Allah only guarantees success. And Peace and Salutations be on our Nabi and
his Family and his companions.

Signatures of the Scholars on this Fatwa are:

Shiekh Abd al Aziz bin Abdallah bin Baaz
Abo Bakr Mahmood Jumee
Shiekh Saleh Al Othaymeen
Sheikh Mustafa Ahmad Zarqa
Abu Al Hassan Al Nadawi
Sheikh Mohammed Salih Adood
Abdallah Ali Al Harkaan
Abdallah bin Mohammed al Homaid
Mohammed Mahmood Al-Sawwaf
Mohammed bin Abdallah al Subayil
Mabrook al Awadi
Mohammed al Shdhali Nefier
Hassanian Mohammed Makhloof
Dr.Mohammed Rashidi
Mahmmod Shhet Khattab
Mabrook al Awadi
Mohammed Rashid Qabbani

The last 10 nights & days of Ramadan

How to take full advantage and benefit from the last part of Ramadan ? Though all parts of Ramadan are full of blessings and rewards, it’s last ten nights hold a special status reflected in the recommendations and practices of the Messenger of Allah , salla Allahu alaihi wasallam, and his companions. I will focus here on three major practices of the Prophet, sallaAllahu alaihi wa sallam, and his companions during these days.

Praying in the last ten nights of Ramadan

Al-Bukhari and Muslim record from ‘Aishah that during the last ten days of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah would wake his wives up during the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts of worship). A narration in Muslim states: “He would strive [to do acts of worship] during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time.” Aisha reported that with the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. [Bukhari]

I`tikaf – click here to read article

• Performing I`tikaf in the Masjid (seclusion in the Mosque)
• Permissible Acts for the Mu`takif (the person performing I`tikaf)
• Actions that Nullify the I`tikaf
• I`tikaf is not restricted to men only, women also can do it

Laylatul-Qadr – click her to read article

• Seeking Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree)
• What happens to the person who witnesses Laylatul-Qadr? and what
  should one do?
• When is Laylatul-Qadr ?
• What are the signs of laylatul-Qadr?

Zakat ul-Fitr – click her to read article

O Allah , we ask you by Your Beautiful Names and Attributes of higher rank, and by all the
sincere deeds we have done, do not deprive us from their company, and do not deprive us
from looking at you in Paradise. Aameen

Suhaib radhiya Allahu `anh relates that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: When the inmates
of the Paradise will have entered the Paradise, Allah , the Master of Honor and Glory, will
ask them: Do you want anything more that I should give you? They will submit: (O Allah )!
Have you not made our faces shining? Have you not admitted us to the Paradise and saved
us from the Hell? (What else is left to be desired?) Thereupon, the veil will be withdrawn,
and the inmates of the Paradise will not have known anything dearer to them than looking
at their Lord. [Muslim].

Click link to download article TheLastTenNightsandDaysofRamadan

In The Name of Allah , The Gracious, The Merciful

This Blessed Month of Ramadan

As Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have spent more than one half of the month of Ramadan in the worship of Almighty Allah , let us continue to strive together and direct our attention to the objective of acquiring Taqwa. Our worship of Allah during the sacred month will bring its own reward,but perhaps reflection and contemplation will also reveal other possibilities to us.
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In The Name of Allah , The Gracious, The Merciful

Ramadan Mubarak

The Prophet of Allah , the peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Whoever observed fast in Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah then all his previous sins will be forgiven”

“There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he meets his Lord: then he will be pleased because of his fasting”

Fasting is a shield (or screen or shelter, so, the person observing fasting should not behavefoolishly and impudently and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him “I am fasting” twice.

Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and Drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting”

Fasting (Siyam) -According to the Qur’an and Sunnah, as extracted and inferred by scholars of the Hanafi school.
From “Mukhtasar al-Quduri“, a matn of Hanafi fiqh

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Please health guide is a guide to healthy fasting bookle that you can download or view online – click here to view or download

RAMADAN: THE MONTH OF GUIDANCE AND MERCY

“Oh You Who Believe, Fasting is prescribed for You, As It Was Prescribed for Those Before You, That You May Obtain Taqwa” (Qur’an 2:183)

Al Hamdulillah, we have reached another blessed month of Ramadan, and once again it is a time for us to consider both the responsibility and the reward that this great pillar of Islam offers us.

It is a time when the believer must question how he or she will choose to stand before the Lord of all the worlds. What deeds will weigh heavy on the scale and earn the forgiveness and Mercy of Allah .  A hadith of the Prophet states that this is a time in which the Shayteen are chained and have no power to suggest to us. We therefore must bear witness to the weaknesses and wickedness within us, so that we can honestly assess and seek to improve ourselves, with Allah ’s Help.

In this month, the rope of guidance and salvation was extended to all of mankind. Allah says in the Quran: Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down; a guidance for all mankind, and a clarification of guidance and a criterion of truth and falsehood.
(S:2, A:185)

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