ummtaalib

Violation of Masjid Al-Aqsa continues Yesterday 20th April 2022: For the FIFTH time since Friday, Israeli Occupation Forces violated Masjid Al-Aqsa.This morning, they fired rubber-coated bullets at worshippers and assaulted others, forcing them out of the compound to make way for Israeli settlers. Today: Israeli forces fire tear gas at worshippers inside Musallah Al Qibly. This is the 6th attack on Masjid Al Aqsa since last Friday Friends Of Al-Aqsa (@friendsofalaqsa) • Instagram photos and videos

Now that we have arrived in the middle of this sacred month, let us reflect on how the first half of this month has passed. Let us ask ourselves: Have I lost momentum? Have I controlled my tongue? How is the state of my heart? Am I meeting my Qur’ān target? Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) says in the Noble Qur’ān, ‏ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا۟ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِىْرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ “Believers! Be mindful of Allah and let every soul carefully consider what it has sent forth for tomorrow. And fear Allah: certainly, Allah is All-Aware of what you do” (59:18). This āyah teaches us that if we are to be worthy of ‘īmān’, we have to adorn ourselves with taqwā, in private and public. Similarly, we have to hold ourselves accountable of what we do in this world, and what consequences our actions will have in the hereafter. This āyah also teaches us that we should live our lives with a focus on the hereafter. This world is a bridge to the hereafter, our real home. Everything we do in this world should be so that tomorrow, when we stand in front of Allah, He is happy with us. We are happy to meet Him, and He is happy to receive us. ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said, “Hold yourselves to account (in the world) before you are held to account (in the hereafter). Evaluate your actions (today) before you are evaluated (tomorrow), for the Reckoning will be easier upon you tomorrow if you hold yourselves accountable today.” Muḥasābah, an action of the heart, is to evaluate one’s actions and behaviour of the nafs (inner self); and then rectifying the mistakes, and continuing the good deeds. When we evaluate our daily, weekly, and monthly actions, we should identify our sins and repent sincerely. We should ask Allah to forgive us, and make a firm resolve to stay away from that sin in the future. We should identify the root causes of the sin, and plan how we can stay away from what causes us to fall into that particular sin. Similarly, we should identify where we are falling short in terms of fulfilling the rights of Allah. Doing this will mean we do not become deceived with our ʿibādah. Instead, we will put our hope and trust in Allah, and not our own paltry actions. This should be followed by asking Allah to help us worship Him with excellence. Whilst we are reflecting on our shortcomings, we should contrast this with the immense blessings of Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) upon us. This should fill our hearts with ḥayā (shyness). How much He blesses us, and how little we thank Him! How much He does for us, and yet we disobey Him. How often we disregard His commands, yet He does not deprive us! If we fail to hold ourselves accountable and do not live a life of taqwā, we will become like the people who Allah describes as: وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَأَنسَىٰهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ الْفَٰسِقُونَ “And do not be like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. It is they who are defiantly disobedient” (59:19). If we are heedless of Allah, and we fail to remember Him and uphold His rights, Allah will cause us to forget that which is actually beneficial for our souls. In effect, it is we who lose out, when we move far away from our Creator, and surrender to the whims and desires of our souls. The Prophet ﷺ would seek the protection of Allah from ‘the evils’ of the nafs. If our nafs is left to its own devices, and we allow it to lead us, instead of leading it, it will lead us to sin and evil. How To Treat Your Nafs It has been said that the nafs is like a treacherous business partner. If you do not hold him accountable, he will run away with your money. Similarly, if we do not hold our nafs accountable, it will run away with our success and land us in the pit of destruction. We often go easy on our nafs, but this is exactly what it wants! Fasting trains us to gain mastery over it and teaches us not give in to its every whim. We should not let our nafs fool us by thinking, ‘This is only a minor sin’ or, ‘There is a difference of opinion anyway, so it doesn’t really matter.’ We should treat our nafs as though it is another person and remain very strict with it. When the nafs slips and errs, we should reprimand it; and when we find it leaning itself to the obedience of Allah, we should push it in that direction. ʿĀmir b. ʿAbd Qays (raḥimahullāh) said, “I saw a number of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ and I accompanied them. They informed us that those who were the most stringent in taking their inner selves to account in the world, will be the ones with the purest īmān on the Day of Judgement.” Muḥāsabah is not just for ordinary Muslims. It is actually more important for those involved in seeking and spreading knowledge, and calling others to Allah. Theoretical knowledge alone will not protect the heart and nafs. Actively working on one’s nafs is essential to avoid envy, pride, hatred, and backbiting. We should allocate time every single day and evaluate our actions on a daily basis. At night before we go to sleep, we should ask Allah to forgive us for our day’s shortcomings and sins. We should free our hearts from hatred and malice, and forgive all those who may have wronged us. We should sincerely repent, as we do not know if we will wake up the next day. Self-Reflection Questions Did I do it sincerely for the sake of Allah alone? What were my deficiencies in the act of worship I did (e.g. Did I miss out on khushūʿ in ṣalāh? Did I ruin my fast by backbiting?) Did I perform a good deed which was of lesser importance, and justified it to myself by thinking that I was ‘still doing something good’? Did I use my intention to transform an ordinary deed into an act of worship? How much of my ‘screen time’ is spent on what spiritually and mentally nourishes me? The Order of Accountability Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) explains that we can evaluate ourselves in the following way: 1. Obligatory (farḍ) deeds. Firstly, we should reflect on whether we fulfilled those deeds which are obligatory upon us, and then expiate for them. E.g if ṣalāh was missed, then immediately perform qaḍā or if it was rushed and deficient then make amends by praying additional voluntary (nafl) prayers. 2. Forbidden acts. Then, we should reflect on our sins. We should sincerely repent by regretting what we did and resolve to not repeat such a sin. Where possible, we should also make amends e.g. if we insulted someone, then we should apologise to them and make duʿā’ for them. 3. Heedlessness/moments of distraction. The next step is to evaluate moments where we are not doing ḥarām, but are indulging in activities which are not conducive to our purpose in life (worshipping Allah). In an era of distraction, we are bombarded with various forms of entertainment and notifications leading us to wasting precious time. We should make amends for this by increasing our remembrance of Allah (dhikr, ṣalāh, Qur’ān etc.). 4. Intentions. This is vital, as we may perform an amazing deed, but ruin it due to riyā’ (showing off) and not do it for the sake of Allah. Or we may have done something ordinary in the day, but this could become a great act of worship if we intended to do it for the sake of Allah. For e.g. we may have a mind-numbing job, but we could intend every day before we leave the house that we are doing it to earn a ḥalāl living, provide for our families, give charity through it etc. Or we may feel like cooking for our families is a chore, but this could become an act of worship if we intend with it to feed nutritious ḥalāl food to our loved ones, so they can become strong believers and serve the dīn of Allah. May Allah al-Bāṭin (The Intimate) make us mindful of our outer and inner deeds, and allow us to prepare for meeting Him. Source

Various peices of news from eye.on.palestine From the old city of Jerusalem where the Israeli occupation forces close the gate of Al Aqsa mosque and prevent worshippers from entering it, while hundreds of settlers are breaking into the mosque. The Israeli occupation forces close the gates of the Dome of the at Al Aqsa mosque, dozens of women are besieged there. Worshippers, who are besieged inside Al Qibli prayer hall, use the loudspeakers to ask people to defend Al Aqsa mosque from the raid of the occupation forces and Israeli settlers. According to the Islamic Awqaf : 545 Israeli settlers broke into Al Aqsa mosque, since the early morning

What is happeningin Al-Aqsa? At dawn (April 15th), thousands of worshippers in Al-Aqsa mosque thwarted repetitive aggressive attacks by the Occupation Forces, storming Al-Qibli Mosque, injuring 150 Palestinians, and detaining over 400, in an escalating level of violence. This attack precedes the Jewish Passover holiday (15th- 22nd of April) which settlers have been crowding for months to offer its sacrifice inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, promising incentives for those who succeed to offer the Passover sacrifice inside the mosque. Starting from today, settlers might implement their plan at any moment, and their announced intrusions into Al-Aqsa are expected to start on Sunday morning (April 17th) and continue for four days. Israeli attempts to offer the sacrifice of the holiday in Al-Aqsa Mosque is a step on the path of solidifying the Occupation’s control over the Mosque. Realizing this danger, Palestinians (Murabiteen) have been guarding Al-Aqsa with their presence and confronting the Israeli Occupation Forces’ intrusions and brutal attacks, regardless of hundreds of Israeli arrests aiming to quell their resistance. www.instagram.com/p/CcX4HS8NdEU/

Press reports of Al-Qibly Masjid storming Outright lies on Sky news: Al-Aqsa mosque: 'More than 150' injured as Israeli police clash with Palestinians The violence broke out shortly after morning prayers, with Israel saying dozens of masked men carrying Palestinian and Hamas flags had marched to the compound.

The damage in Al-Qibli Masjid Eye On Palestine (@eye.on.palestine) • Instagram photos and videos

Al-Qibli Masjid stormed by Occupation forces The Israeli occupation forces stormed Al Qibli mosque at Al Aqsa mosque. The Israeli occupation forces stormed Al Qibli mosque, assaulted worshippers and detained dozens of Palestinian youth. www.instagram.com/p/CcXMFXNlcOi/

Palestinian factions warn Israel against desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Passover Palestinian factions yesterday warned the Israeli occupation against the planned desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque by right-wing Jewish extremist during the Passover holiday this weekend. Calling for "popular mobilisation", they said they would be on standby to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem. In a press conference held at the Hamas headquarters in Gaza, the Palestinian factions announced their joint statement on the issue. This came following a declaration made by extremist Jewish groups about plans to carry out Jewish sacrifices inside Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish Passover holiday, which starts tomorrow. Adverts seen online have called on Jews to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and offer animal sacrifices. "Join the attempts to make the Passover sacrifice and receive a financial reward!" Source

Threat of Passover sacrifice in Al-Aqsa! We are currently seeing a rise in Israel’s brutal violence against Palestinians. Israel have launched large - scale attacks on Palestinain towns, villages and refugee camps.🟡 Since the start of #Ramadan, there have been several incursions by Israeli settlers at Al-Aqsa. This weekend is Jewish Passover and extremist Israeli settlers have called for the slaughter of animals at Al-Aqsa.This poses a serious threat.🤲🏾 Please keep Palestinians and Masjid Al-Aqsa in your duas 🤲🏾 @friendsofalaqsa

Update on trial: The Israeli court will not consider the case of Ahmad Manasra as a case of "terrorism" because there wasn't a defense attorney for him during the initial trial. Thus, the first verdict is no longer valid, which will be the beginning of a new legal process to pursue the freedom of him

Today all eyes are on Ahmad Manasra’s re-trial after being tortured and imprisoned by Israeli forces since the age of 13 years old, back in 2015. #FreeAhmadManasra #Unchilding

Palestinian prisoner did not know Ramadhaan had started He was isolated for 14 months, he could not distinguish between day and night, and he does not know that he is in the month of Ramadan. The Occupation Prisons Administration is carrying out a crime against the Palestinian prisoner Rabie Abu Nawas (33 years), from the town of Sinjel / Ramallah, who is married and is a father of three daughters who has been detained since 2019. The jailers and confronting him. Today, the occupation authorities are requesting a sentence of up to 16 years in prison. The occupation prisons administration continues to isolate him in dangerous conditions in Ayalon Prison - Ramle, with his health and psychological condition continuing to deteriorate. He spent a total of 20 months in solitary confinement, of which 14 months were continuous. His wife, who was able to visit him recently after a ban that lasted for several months, "confirmed that he is facing a dangerous situation, without any belongings in his cell, his clothes are dirty, he suffers from severe weight loss, she asked him about his situation in the month of Ramadan, and he was surprised that we are in the month of Ramadan where no way to connect him with the outside world. www.instagram.com/p/CcQu3WcN500/

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TAHAJJUD AND TARAWEEH PRAYERS? Question: Can you please provide a guidance to differentiate between Tahajjud and Taraweeh prayers? Some have belief that Taraweeh, Tahajjud and Qiyaam ul Layl all refer to same prayer while on many mosques both Tahajjud and Taraweeh prayers are offered in congregation. Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. Qiyamul Layl literally means ‘standing at night’. Tahajjud and Taraweeh are Salahs performed at night, hence from a literal point of view, they are Qiyamul Layl. However, Taraweeh is different from Tahajjud. Hereunder are the differences between Tahajjud and Taraweeh. 1) Tahajjud is classified as a Nafl Salah, and Taraweeh is classified as a Sunna Salah. 2) Tahajjud can be prayed throughout the year, while Taraweeh is exclusively prayed in Ramadan. 3) Taraweeh is a 20 Rakat Salah, while Tahajjud could be any number of Rakats. 4) Taraweeh should be prayed in congregation, while according to Imam Abu Hanifah, it is Makrooh to pray Tahajjud in congregation if there are more than 3 people. And Allah Ta‘āla Knows Best Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Rahimahullah) Darulifta.net

Jazaakallah Wanted to ask about his speaking out for people of Kashmir and Palestine. This would also be an added reason for him being ousted? "They" would not like that at all right?

The first Ramaḍān after you get married is different. You have additional responsibilities and your routine has changed. Just as you’d thought you had made enough adjustments in your life, Ramaḍān comes along. Ramaḍān can sometimes challenge a relationship, especially if it involves rituals which are heavily cultural and, perhaps even, contrary to the spirit of the month (e.g elaborate ifṭārs and fancy ifṭār parties). Don’t make food the focus of your Ramaḍān. Make it about Allah, and you will witness immense blessings in your home and marriage. The long days and hunger can affect your mood and make you feel ‘hangry’. This may test your patience and make you snap at your spouse. Ramadan is the month of cultivating ṣabr (patience). Be gentle and kind. Walk away when things get tense and control your tongue. They Are a Garment for You Within the āyāt about fasting, Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) says, > أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ “It has been made permissible for you to be intimate with your wives during the nights preceding the fast. They are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them” (2:187). Spouses are described in this āyah as a ‘garment’, a source of comfort and peace. Just as our clothes protect us from harm, we should protect each other from harm and ḥarām. Just as we adorn oneself with clothes, spouses adorn each other. Just as our clothes are attached to our bodies, likewise in marriage, there is a strong attachment and closeness to each other; a unique physical, emotional and spiritual bond which connects both spouses. Our clothes cover us. Similarly, we should cover each other’s faults and protect each other’s secrets and dignity. Clothes give us comfort, and thus spouses should be a source of mutual comfort. Sometimes our clothes may become tight for us and slightly uncomfortable. Or they may tear and need patching. Similarly, our marriages may go through rough patches. Instead of despairing, we should turn towards Allah and look inwardly as to how we could improve our conduct. Seek the blessings of Ramaḍān and use them to strengthen your connection to each other by connecting to Allah. Support each other and encourage each other to increase in ʿibādah. Serve each other, share the knowledge that you have attained, and discuss your reflections with each other. Listen to a lecture or read a book together. Make duʿā’ for your marriage and family. As the institution of marriage is under increasing threat, ask Allah to protect, strengthen and bless your marriage. Ask Him to make your relationship the means of attaining His pleasure. Ramadan as Parents Once you have children, you will probably look back wistfully at Ramaḍān pre-children. Ramaḍān post-children will be different. However, it is key to remember that ʿibādah is a comprehensive concept, and is not limited to reciting Qur’ān or performing tarāwīḥ. Looking after your children is indeed a great act of ʿibādah. You are raising the next generation of the ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ, and this is no small feat. Ramaḍān in the state of nifās, without fasting, can be overwhelming, and can sometimes leave mums with a sense of guilt and inadequacy. Remember to try your best, and Allah will reward you for your intentions. The Prophet ﷺ said, “If a servant falls ill or travels, the likes of what he used to do when he was a resident (i.e. not travelling) and healthy will be recorded for him” (Bukhārī). Even with fasting, Ramaḍān with young children can be challenging. Asking for help from other family members, and reciprocating in return can be helpful. For example, you may find a family member who is menstruating, willing to take care of your young children, whilst you perform tarāwīḥ in peace! It is vital to be considerate and give your spouse their own ‘alone time with Allah’ whilst you take care of your children. Your spouse connecting with Allah will result in him/her being a better spouse and parent to your children. Nurturing Our Children As parents, we should be concerned about instilling moral and spiritual values in our children, and nurturing them to love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Some parents do not awaken their mature children for Fajr, thinking it will disrupt their sleep. Similarly, some will happily allow their mature children not to fast, under the pretext of ‘too much school work’ or ‘exams’. On the contrary, we should nurture our children to love and perform ṣalāh and fast even before they reach puberty. Encourage them to fast when they are small, starting with one or two fasts, and build on this each year. Reward them as appropriate and make fasting exciting for them. On the day they manage to complete the fast, cook their favourite meal. When they do not manage to complete it, be gentle with them, and use it as an opportunity to teach them about tawbah (repentance) and not giving up. Have age-appropriate discussions with them, and explain to them why this month is so special. Let them see your home transformed in this month to a home of worship and Qur’ān, so that this memory will always stay with them as they grow into adults. Al-Rubayyiʿ b. Muʿawwidh (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a messenger to the settlements of the Anṣār surrounding Madīnah, in the morning of ʿĀshūrā’ to announce, ‘Whoever is observing the fast should complete it, and whoever has eaten something should not eat the rest of the day.’ After that, we used to fast on that day regularly and if Allah willed, we would also make our young children fast; and we would go to the Masjid. We used to make toys out of wool for them: if any one of them cried for food, we would give them the toy until it was time to open the fast” (Bukhārī). This ḥadīth indicates that the companions (radiy Allāhu ʿanhum) used creative methods to encourage their young children to fast, even though they were not obligated to fast. Tips on how to cultivate an atmosphere of īmān and ʿibādah in your home • Share the stories of the Prophets, Companions and the pious people of the past. • Recite Qur’ān together. • Hold a daily family circle where you can have discussions and share reflections. • Do fun and beneficial activities related to Ramaḍān. (There are lots of ideas on the internet for different crafts and activities.) • Go for walks in nature, and remind each other about Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā). Recite Qur’ān together and do dhikr on your outings. Remember to renew your intention whilst spending time with them, and you will be rewarded for this great act of ʿibādah (worship). The Best House on the Block: Can the Angels Easily Identify Your House? Make your house shine through reciting the Qur’ān. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The house in which the Qur’ān is recited appears to the inhabitants of the heaven as the stars appear to the inhabitants of the earth.” (Bayhaqī) A Family of the Night Prayer: A Blessed Family The Prophet ﷺ would awaken his wives in the last ten nights of Ramaḍān to perform the night prayer. Similarly, throughout the year, he would finish praying tahajjud and wake ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) up to pray tahajjud. His concern was not restricted to his spouses. Rather, he was actively involved in the spiritual nourishment of his adult daughter and son-in law. One night, he ﷺ knocked on the door of Fāṭimah and ʿAlī (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) and said, “Will you not get up (and pray)?” (Bukhārī). Likewise, we should be eager for our spouses and children to not miss out on any good. By becoming a family of the night prayer, we will inshallah witness the blessings and tranquillity in our marriages, families and homes. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “May Allah have mercy upon a man who gets up at night, prays, and wakes his wife up. If she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy upon a woman who gets up at night, prays, and wakes her husband up. If he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face” (Aḥmad). ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) used to pray for a large portion of the night, and when it would be the middle of the night, he would awaken his family for ṣalāh, saying to them, “Ṣalāh, ṣalāh!” and he would recite the verse, “Instruct your family to perform ṣalāh, and adhere to it yourself” (20:132). Exhorting her husband to stand up for tahajjud, the wife of Abū Muḥammad Ḥabīb (raḥimahullāh) used to say to him at night, “The night has gone. Ahead of us lies a long journey, and the provisions are little. The caravans of the righteous have sped ahead of us, whilst we have remained behind.” May Allah al-Ra’ūf (The Most Compassionate) fill our homes with love, compassion and īmān; and our hearts with hope, awe and love for Him. Source

Brutal assaults on Palestinians since Ramadhaan began A group of Israeli soldiers brutally assaulting a Palestinian young man near Damascus Gate in the occupied city of Jerusalem. www.instagram.com/p/Cb-825alEjQ/ Israeli soldiers brutally attack a Palestinian young man near Damascus Gate in the occupied city of Jerusalem, shortly before. www.instagram.com/p/Cb-8A54FdGE/ Brutal arrests against Jerusalemites carried out by the occupation police in Bab al-Amud tonight. www.instagram.com/p/Cb_I_4Tt1hm/ life under occupation goes on....

"Anti-zionist" Synagogue The Tzedek Chicago Synagogue has declares itself to be "anti-Zíøníst" in a statement decrying the creation of Apartheíd Israel as an "injustice against the Palestinian people".The synagogue was established to cater for Jewísh People disenchanted with Apartheíd Israel and sceptical of Zíønísm generally. It had previously labelled itself "non-Zíøníst " but changed that to "anti-Zíøníst" a few days ago.Source: Middle East Monitor

The Salah Series – Life With Allah ­ Ramaḍān is the perfect time to actively develop khushūʿ in your ṣalāh. Khushūʿ is a state in which the heart stands before Allah with complete humility, lowliness and servitude; focusing fully on HimAlone. Then the body also humbles itself and obeys Allah. Khushūʿ is a state in which you constantly weigh up your sins against the greatness of Allah, leaving you overwhelmed with humility and a desperate need for Him. One of our main Ramaḍān goals should be to perform the five farḍ prayers to the best of our abilities. This includes all the additional sunnah prayers and performing them with full concentration, calmness and tranquillity. Similarly, qiyām (the night prayer) in this sacred month is the perfect means to actively work on khushūʿ. We should maximise qiyām to lengthen the various postures, praise Allah extensively, and ask Him for lengthy periods, as our beloved Messenger ﷺ used to do. Taste the Sweetness of Ṣalāh is a guide on how to attain khushūʿ and enjoy your ṣalāh. It offers tips on how to achieve full focus and truly connect with Allah in your ṣalāh. It includes: An explanation of khushūʿand why we struggle with it. Practical steps before, during and after ṣalāh to develop khushūʿ. A journey through ṣalāh. The various adhkār (remembrances) of ṣalāh. The ṣalāh of our beloved Messenger ﷺ and the pious people. The secrets of ṣalāh. Free! In order to make the content of this topic accessible and practical for all, there are three components to ‘Taste the Sweetness of Salah’: (1) The A5 detailed book Taste the Sweetness of Ṣalāh DOWNLOAD TASTE THE SWEETNESS OF ṢALĀH (2) The A6 summary booklet Enjoy Your Ṣalāh DOWNLOAD ENJOY YOUR ṢALĀH (3) The pocket-sized Adhkar of Salah booklet DOWNLOAD THE ADHKAR OF ṢALĀH

We live in a world of import and export, a world in which most goods and commodities are available in most countries for most of the year. However, despite the year-round availability, there are many goods that enjoy a ‘peak season’. Astute businessmen are those who identify this period and utilize it to their advantage. Dynamic Effect The season presents a golden opportunity for one to secure tremendous profits in a minimal period of time. Hence, during the month of December, even if the rest of the world is on vacation, it is practically unimaginable for one to find the serious businessman on holiday. He understands the pivotal role that the season plays in his success; if he remains focused and committed, he will reap the profits, and if he allows himself to become distracted or while away his time, he alone will suffer the consequences. The dynamic effect of the season is such that if the shop owner, who struggles to make ends meet for the entire year, exerts himself and exhausts his efforts in this crucial period, he will not only recover his losses, but will even manage to turn a handsome profit. The Season of Taqwa Just as other things have a special season; taqwa also has a special season – the month of Ramadaan. From fasting during the day to performing Taraaweeh during the night, the entire month has been specially designed to assist a believer in harvesting a bumper crop of fruit, from the tree of taqwa, which he will continue to enjoy long after the blessed month has expired. However, just as with other seasons, this will only be possible if one avails himself for this blessed month and expends all his energies in striving to secure the bargains it has on offer. More than Money If the shop owner arrives at work two hours late, he will regret the business that he lost and lament the money that he could have made. For every minute of the two hours, he could have been serving customers and turning the numbers. We often hear the adage ‘time is money’. However, contrary to popular belief, time is NOT money — it is far more valuable than money. Whereas money can always be later recovered if lost, time can never be recovered — and it is for this reason that time is our single greatest asset. In the race to secure the rewards of Ramadaan, it is those who are particular regarding their time that profit the most. Destructive Distractions In this regard, along with the ready-made opportunities to benefit are a host of ready-made distractions. After - Taraaweeh braais, meeting friends for a chat, an ‘Eid bargain-hunting’ excursion – these are all seemingly innocent activities. However, when thoroughly scrutinized, we realize that the braai ‘burnt’ two or three hours of our time, whereas a normal supper would have been concluded in a maximum of thirty minutes. The excursion to purchase ‘Eid-goods at the best prices may have saved us a few valuable rands but undoubtedly cost us invaluable hours and minutes. Media ‘Mania’ In the opinion of many, the uncrowned yet undisputed champion of ‘killing time’ is social media in all its various guises and forms. The magnetic effect of the smartphone transcends metal and hence it is the human eye that remains fixated to the screen. Whether in the masjid, while attending a program for spiritual upliftment, or at the time of sehri when du‘aas are accepted – instead of maximizing and benefiting from these opportunities, there are many who become Media ‘Maniacs’ and wile away the irrecoverable moments on their smart phones. For this purpose, just as we fast by shunning food and drink from dawn to sunset, let us make a resolution to ‘fast’ from all forms of media for all the 24 hours of every day in the Month of Ramadhan. Be it remaining abreast with the news, keeping up to date with Instagram, TikTok & Facebook – we should initiate a complete ’fast’ from all these time-consumers during this blessed period and afterwards as well. Thus let us make this Ramadaan very profitable by correctly investing the capital of time that we have been blessed with. Insha-Allah we will reap the rewards in this world and the Hereafter. alhaadi.org.za