Fiqh of Fasting-7 The Ultimate Shield

1. Fiqh of Fasting-7The Ultimate Shield Taught by: Hacene Chebbani

2. Excellence of Dua’ in Ramadan • “And when My servants ask you, [O Mohammad], concerning Me- indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be rightly guided.” 2/186

3. Wisdom of this Verse • Allah is not a remote God who does not care about his servants. He is near and close to them with His knowledge and protection. He hears their dua’ and knows what is in their hearts. • He promised that he will respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Him. • This promise will not take place unless the believer responds to Allah by obedience and taqwa.

4. Allah Does not Break His Promise "Any Muslim who makes a dua and his dua does not contain a request for anything sinful or anything regarding the severance of family ties, Allah Ta'ala will surely grant him one of three things: 1. What he has asked is granted immediately, or 2. What he has asked is saved for him in Al-akhirah, 3. Allah wards away some calamity from him instead of what he asked for." They said: We will resort to dua in abundance. He (Salla Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: More abundance is with Allah.” Saheeh al-Adab al-Mufrad by al-Albaani

5. What is Your List • Make your list of Dua’s and repeat them throughout the month of Ramadan. • Amplify your dua’ by the use of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah or by expressing your necessity and your extreme need to His Mercy. • Watch for the preferred timings of dua’s. • Do not forget to praise Allah and then ask Allah to send His Blessings and Prayers upon His Messenger (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam).

6. Try this One ” اللهم إني أسألك من الخير كله، عاجله و آجله، ما علمت منه و ما لم أعلم و أعوذ بك من الشرّ كله عاجله و آجله ، ما علمت منه و ما لم أعلم. اللهم إني أسألك الجنّة و ما قرب إليها من قول أو عمل و أعوذ بك من النار و ما قرب إليها من قول أو عمل. اللهم إني أسألك مما سألك به نبيك محمد صلى الله عليه و سلم و أعوذ بك مما استعاذ منه نبيك محمد صلى الله عليه و سلم. و ما قضيت لي من قضاء فاجعل عاقبته رشدا.“ صحيح الجامع للألباني

7. The Most Perfect Inclusive Words • Oh Allah, I ask you every goodness, what is present and what is delayed. What I know about and what I do not know, I seek refuge in You from every evil, what is present and what is deferred. What I know about and what I do not know. O Allah, I ask You of Paradise and every deed or speech that will be a means of drawing near to it; and I seek refuge in You from the Fire and from every deed or speech that will be a means of drawing near to it.

8. Translation • Oh Allah, I ask of everything that Your Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) has asked for and I seek refuge in You from anything that Your Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) has sought refuge from, and whatever You have decreed for me, then make it happen with good effect.

9. Other Dua’s ” ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة و في الآخرة حسنة و قنا عذاب النار“ ”اللهم أعني على ذكرك و شكرك و حسن عبادتك“ ”اللهم إني أسألك الجنّة و أعوذ بك من النّار“ ”رب إني لما أنزلت إلي من خير فقير“ ” لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين“ ”ربنا ظلمنا أنفسنا و إن لم تغفر لنا و ترحمنا لنكونن من الخاسرين“

10. Common Mistakes • Adopting a made up list of daily Dua’s in Ramadan called “Ramazan Du’a”. • Taking Ramadan as a ritual. • Too much stress on food and drink • Spending all day planning, shopping and thinking only about food. • Spending all day cooking • Eating too much

11. Continued • Sleeping all day • Wasting time • Fasting but not giving up evil • Skipping Suhoor • Ending Suhoor at Imsaak time. Imsaak in Shariah is exactly the very same Fajr Time. • Extending the time of Iftaar until the time of Maghrib Prayer is over • Fasting and not praying • Not fasting because of exams or work

12. continued • Mixing fasting and dieting • Fighting over the number of rakaats of Taraweeh. • Wasting the last part of Ramadan preparing for Eid.