Asif Siddiqi- a student of Quran Academy

During Ramadan, one should reflect, pray, and deliver oneself from sin. While the emphasis of Ramadan is on fasting during daylight hours, it is also about strengthening one’s relationship with Allah (SWT) through worshipping His greatness and praying to Him. Ramadan in its entirety is an especially prominent time in Islam, although, there is one evening that is particularly meaningful, and that evening is Laylat-al-Qadr.  What is Laylat-al-Qadr? Laylat-al-Qadr is otherwise known as the Night of Power and is considered to be the Islamic calendar’s Holiest eve. During this night, Angel Jibril revealed the Holy Qur'an’s first verses to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This night falls within Ramadan’s final 10 days, and although the exact date is unidentified, it is commonly thought of as the Holy month’s 27th day. This is a night of great commemoration and devotion to Allah (SWT) and places higher than that of 1,000 months. Nights Of Power The Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr) allows you t...

  Sin During Ramadan In the name of Allah, all thanks are due to Allah, and may the peace of blessings of Allah be upon His Messenger – Muhammad – and upon his family, companions, and all prophets. Many people wonder if rewards are multiplied during Ramadan, does that mean the punishment for sins is as well? If the devils are chained up in Ramadan, how do people still commit sins? Do sins nullify our fasting? If we commit a major sin during Ramadan, does that mean we cut our fasting and make it up some other day? Is doing Sin During Ramadan the Punishment Multiplied During Ramadan? The prophet PMBUH encouraged all Muslims to condense their performance of good deeds during Ramadan as mentioned in our previous article; but what about the punishment for sins? Is it also multiplied if some do sin during Ramadan? There is no evidence for such a claim in the Quran or in the Sunnah of the prophet. However, it is safe to infer that if Ramadan is such a sacred month, then sins are strongly ...

 8 Health Benefits of Fasting, Backed by Science Despite its recent surge in popularity, fasting is a practice that dates back centuries and plays a central role in many cultures and religions. Defined as the abstinence from all or some foods or drinks for a set period of time, there are many different ways of fasting. In general, most types of fasts are performed over 24–72 hours. Intermittent fasting, on the other hand, involves cycling between periods of eating and fasting, ranging from a few hours to a few days at a time. Fasting has been shown to have many health benefits, from increased weight loss to better brain function. Here are 8 health benefits of fasting — backed by science. Photography by Aya Brackett 1. Promotes Blood Sugar Control by Reducing Insulin Resistance Several studies have found that fasting may improve blood sugar control, which could be especially useful for those at risk of diabetes. In fact, one study in 10 people with type 2 diabetes showed that short-...

 The purpose of fasting is to develop the quality of righteousness (taqwa) by abstaining from sinful deeds and training ourselves to control our desires. Allah said: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become righteous. (Qur’an, 2:183) The word, ‘taqwa’ comes from the root meaning, ‘to guard’ and it is variously translated as mindfulness, righteousness, and God-fearing piety. Fasting is meant to instill this virtuous quality within us. In this way, fasting acts as a shield, which protects us from sin and ultimately from the punishment of Allah in the Hereafter. Uthman ibn Abu Al-Aas reported: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Fasting is a shield from the Hellfire just like the shield of any of you in battle’.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 1639) Therefore, a Muslim must be especially careful to guard himself from all kinds of sin while he is fasting. He should abandon unbeneficial speech and esp...

 All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.  It is impermissible to sell the purchased item before taking possession of it first. Zayd ibn Thaabit  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said, "Do not sell it in the spot where you have bought it until you take it to your house for the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, forbade to sell the goods where they are bought until the traders take them into their possession." [Abu Dawood] It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ʻAbbaas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, also forbade the resale of foodstuff by somebody who had bought it unless he had received it with exact full measure. [Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others] Ibn ʻAbbaas  may  Allaah ...

 Shabe e baraat bida innovation In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.   Your Question: What does Islam say about Shab e Barat There is absolutely no evidence in the authentic Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) or his noble companions or family ever celebrated or commemorated the night of Shabe-Baraat, nor did he (saws) ever offer any special prayers on this night, nor did he (saws) ever command the believers to do anything special on this night!     It is the absolute unanimous opinion of all the good jurists and scholars in Islam that there is to be no special commemoration or cel...

 Working out how much Zakat to pay and how to pay it can be sometimes difficult and for that reason, we have created this short guide. We’ve broken down some of the most common questions and cleared up the main misconceptions about Zakat. While you’re here, you can also use our Zakat calculator or read our Zakat policy. What is Zakat and why is it important to me? ‘You shall observe the Salah and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and bow down with those who bow down.’ (Qur’an 2:43) Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It is an obligatory act of charity amounting to 2.5% of a Muslim’s annual savings. Zakat is intended to purify our wealth, not only physically, but also spiritually. It purifies our heart against selfishness as well as ensuring that society’s poorest are protected against hunger and destitution.  A common misconception is that Zakat is a form of tax. However, it is a spiritual obligation in which we will be accountable to Allah directly. Zakat plays a key role ...