Fruits of Ramadan

A) The Hellfire is locked and the gates of Paradise are opened




Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “When Ramadaan comes the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the Fire are locked and the devils are chained…”

All praise is for Allah Who out of His infinite Mercy locks the gates of Hell, chains and shackles the devils and opens up the gates of Paradise in this month for His servants, making it easier for them to devote this special time to His worship. It makes it harder for the evil jinn to corrupt the people as they usually do, because Insha’Allah the Muslims will be occupied with fasting, engaged in reading the Qur’aan, busy with extra prayers and in doing other righteous actions which help clean and purify their hearts.


B) Sins are Forgiven.




The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) explained to his Ummah that Ramadaan has such a high station that even if a Muslim’s sins were as much as the foam upon the sea, they would be forgiven through fasting in this month.

He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “He who fasts in Ramadaan due to eemaan and hoping for reward from Allah then his previous sins are forgiven.”

Furthermore, in this month people are freed from the Hellfire every day and night, due to Allah’s extreme Mercy. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) told us in this regard that:

“There are in the month of Ramadaan in every day and night, those whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and it will be granted.”

This supplication, which is never rejected occurs at the time of breaking the fast.(See Sunan ibn Maajah, 1/557)




C) Lailatul-Qadr




Another virtue of this blessed month is that in it falls the night that is better than a thousand months, in which descends the angels and the Rooh, and in which if one is standing in prayer out of faith and seeking reward, then his previous sins are forgiven. This is the Night of Decree – Lailatul-Qadr .




The Virtues of Fasting:

Fasting itself is an action which has many virtues and rewards, Allah – the one free from all imperfections – revealed in His Book “..and fast, it is better for you if you did but know.” [Soorah al- Baqarah (2) : 184]

To try and help us understand just how valuable it is, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) informed us that it is a shield against the Hellfire, a protection against desires, a cause to enter Paradise and a gate from the gates of Paradise has been particularized for it, as well as other merits.

A) A shield.




He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: ‘Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the fire.”

Fasting weakens and cuts off desires and since it is desires which lead to the fire, it can be seen how fasting acts as a protection against them, as a barrier, a shield, between the fasting person and the fire. It safeguards one from indulging in foul speech, quarrels and fights. It also develops the habit of self-control and restraint.

It is for this reason that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), ordered the men who are unable to marry, to practice the act of fasting. Fasting will cut off the sensual desire by diminishing the vigor of the body, calming and constraining it.

” 0 youths, whosoever amongst you is able to marry then let him do so, since it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts, and he who is unable, then let him fast because it is a shield for him.”




B) A Cause for Entering Paradise.




Since fasting distances one from the fire, it brings one closer to Paradise. The Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) was asked by his Companion Abo Umaamah (radhi allahu anhu):”0 Messenger of Allah tell me an action by which I may enter Paradise.” He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Take to fasting, there is nothing like it.”




C) An Immense Reward




Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold rewards, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High has said: “Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will recompense it, he leaves of his desires and his food for Me. For the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time of joy when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, the smell coming from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of Musk..”

The main virtue of fasting, as with any action, is that it is done purely for the sake of Allah. The difference with fasting is that it is an act completely hidden from others so it is done merely for the pleasure of Allah (unlike for example: Prayer, Hajj etc.) and so Allah rewards His servant for it specially.

D) An Intercession




Another great virtue of fasting is that it will act as an intercessor with Allah on the Day of Judgement – a day when we will be in need of intercession.

He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Fasting and the Qur’aan intercede for a servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: “0 my Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him” and the Qur’aan will say: “I prevented him from sleep at night, so accept my intercession for him” So their intercessions will be accepted.”




E) An Expiation for Various Sins




Allah – the Most High – has also made fasting an expiation for certain sins. This means if someone commits one of these sins then he can atone for it by fasting a fixed number of days. Fasting is an expiation for:

(i) Shaving the head while in a state of ihraam [i.e. while one is performing the rites of Hajj or Umrah.] due to some illness][Soorah al-Baqarah (2) :196]

(ii) One who is unable to carry out the obligatory sacrifice during Hajj – [Soorah al-Baqarah (2) : 196]

(iii) Accidentally killing one of the people with whom you have a treaty – [Soorah an-Nisaa (4) : 92]

(iv) Hunting game while in a state of ihraam – [Soorah al-Maaidah (5) :95]

(v) Violating an oath – [Soorah al-Maaidah (5) :893]

(vi) Dhihaar [This is the saying of husband to his wife: "You are to me like the back of my mother (i.e. awful to me) ] – [Soorah al-Mujaadilah (58) : 3 - 4]




F) Ar-Rayaan is for the Fasting People

Finally, Allah – the One free from all imperfections – has particularized a gate from the gates of Paradise for those who fast. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:”Indeed, there is a gate of Paradise called ar-Rayaan. On the Day of Resurrection those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them, end when they have entered, it is closed so that no one (else) enters it.”

“The status of fasting and its place in lslaam should now be clear to us, by Allah’s permission, and also the great rewards awaiting the one who fasts seeking the pleasure of Allah. The rewards can, however increase or decrease depending upon how close it is upon the way of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam). Therefore we must know the characteristics of his (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) fast, together with its obligatory duties, its manners and the relevant supplications and then put that into practice.”

We wish and Pray That May Allah – the Most High grant us the ability to do that which allow us to capture the fruits of this month and make us amongst those who enter His Paradise through the gate of Ar-Rayaan.

Ameen

JazakAllah khair for reading!

-this article I copied from http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/fruits-of-ramadan/-

JLPT 2010

Assalamualaikum

Good morning everyone! Do you know that the registration for JAPANESE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST (JLPT) 2010 is now open? Here is the details about it. So, anyone who are interested to sit for the exam, don't waste your time. Apply as soon as possible via http://www.jlsm.org (^_^)


Japanese Language Proficiency Test(JLPT)

We are pleased to announce the JLPT registration will start from 16 August 2010 and the cut-off date of registration is 5 September 2010.

The registration fees for Level N1- N5 are as follows:

N1 ~ RM120.00
N2 ~ RM120.00
N3 ~ RM80.00
N4 ~ RM80.00
N5 ~ RM80.00
Please be informed that JLSM is no longer selling application form. We will be using online registration via JLSM website, Kindly visit our website (www.jlsm.org) on 16 August 2010, the site will show you the 2010 JLPT online registration link and will lead you step by step for registration.

For Group/Bulk registration, especially for schools/Institutions/Colleges/Universities, we would like to advise that you must obtain student/applicant’s online application reference number when they are making payment. This is important for JLSM administrative purposes. You may click here to view a sample of the Group/Bulk Registration Listing Form for your reference or you may download it for your payment recording if it is applicable to you.

Kindly check our website periodically for 2010 JLPT updates.


New JLPT

The new test increases the number of test levels from 4 levels (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4) to 5 Levels (N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5).

N1 Approximately the same level as the current Level 1, but designed to measure slightly more advance abilities.

N2 Approximately the same level as the current Level 2

N3 Positioned at a level bridging the current Level 2 and Level 3 (Newly established)

N4 Approximately the same level as the current Level 3

N5 Approximately the same level as the current Level 4

“N” stands for both “Nihongo” and “New”

For more information and updates, please visit the official website at http://www.jlpt.jp/



TEST DATE: Sunday, December 5, 2010

TEST VENUE:

Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Penang: Refer to Penang Japanese Language Society (email: casee343@yahoo.co.jp)

Ipoh: Refer to Perak Malaysian-Japanese Friendship Society (email: pkmjfs@yahoo.ca)

Kota Kinabalu: Refer to Pusat Penataran Ilmu & Bahasa, University Malaysia Sabah (email: oike-ums@yahoo.co.jp)



TEST SCHEDULES:

Morning session: N1, N2 and N4 Afternoon session: N3 and N5

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please check www.jlsm.org 1 week before the test date to confirm the exact test site map and your test room.

JOM SAHUR!

Assalamualaikum

Selamat berpuasa semua! Hari ni hari ke-5 umat Islam berpuasa.

Tapiii.....alahai......lagu raya sudah mula berkumandang....dptku dgr lagu raya free dr bilik ku ini..



Ha...korang puasa ni bangun sahur x? Mesti ada yg jawab ya, dan mungkin sebahagian besarnya juga akan jawab tidak. Mari kita sama-sama baca artikel ni. Diharap dapat memberi manfaat kepada kita semua. Artikel ini diambil daripada web islamgreatreligion

AS-SAHOOR (The Pre-dawn meal of Ramadhaan)

The Wisdom of Sahoor

Allah (T) made fasting obligatory upon us as He (T) had made it obligatory on the people ot the Book before us. He (T) said , (which means):

{O you who believe Fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you so that perhaps you may attain Taqwaa.} [Al-Baqarah 2 : 183]

In the first period of Islam, the duration and regulations of fasting were in accordance with what was legislated by Allah upon the People of the Book. They were not allowed to eat, drink or engage in sexual intercourse after they slept. That is once one sleeps, he could not eat nor do any of the above until the night of the following day, this implied that they took no Sahoor (Pre-dawn meal).

However, when the above ruling was abrogated, the Messenger (S) commanded the Muslims to take the Sahoor (Pre-dawn meal) as a means of being different in our fasting from the fasting of the People of the Book. ‘Amr Ibn al-Aas reported that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: “The distinguishing feature between our fast and the fast of the People of the Book is in the eating at the time just before dawn.” [Muslim]

The Sahoor is Barakah (blessed)


Salmaan (R) said that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: Blessings are found in three things, the Group (Al-Jama’ah), Ath-thareed (a type of food) and As-Sahoor (the Pre-dawn meal).” [At-Tabaraanee, Abu Na'eem]
Abu Hurairah (R) said that the Messenger (S) of Allah (T) said:

“Verily Allah placed Barakah (blessing) in the Sahoor (pre-dawn meal) and in perfect measurement (weighing).“[Ash-Shairazee]

‘Abdullah Ibn Haarith said that one of the Sahabah (companion) said:

‘I entered the house of the Messenger (S) whilst he was taking the Sahoor (pre-dawn meal), and he (S) said: “Indeed it (the Sahoor) is blessing that Allah has given to you so do not leave it out.” [An-Nasaaee and Ahmad]

The reality that there are great blessings in the Sahoor (Pre-dawn meal) is very apparent because there is in it:
-the following of the Sunnah,
-it makes the fast easier upon the person who is fasting,
-it increases the desire in the person to want to continue to fast because of the ease upon the
fasting person and
-there is also in it the principle of being different from the People of the Book because they are
prohibited from taking the Sahoor (pre-dawn meal).

For this reason the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahuwatala) called it the blessed meal.

Allah (SWT) and the Angels send Salaah upon the people who take the Sahoor (pre-dawn meal)

The greatest blessing of the Sahoor (pre-dawn meal) may be that Allah (SWT) engulfs those who partake in it with His Forgiveness, showers His Mercy on them, while His angels ask of Him to forgive and pardon them.

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree said that the Messenger (S) said: “Eating the Sahoor is blessed. Do not neglect it even if you take a gulp of water, because Allah and His angels invoke blessings upon those who partake in the pre-dawn meal.” [Ahmad]

It is very important that the Muslim does not allow this great blessing from his Merciful Lord to escape him.

What is the best thing the Muslim can eat for SahoorThe Messenger (S) said: “The best Sahoor for the believer is dates.” [Abu Dawood, Al-Baihaqee and Ibn Hibbaan]

Note: If one does not find food to eat then a gulp of water would suffice as is substantiated in the hadeeth.

Delaying the Sahoor


It is recommended to delay the Sahoor (pre-dawn meal) till just before dawn. Zaid ibn Thaabit said: “We ate the Sahoor with the Messenger (S), then we got up to offer the Salaah (prayer – in this case the Fajr prayer). I asked “What was the time between the Adhaan (call to prayer) and the Sahoor?” He said: “(The time it would take) to recite fifty verses.” [Bukhaaree and Muslim]
It must be known that it is allowed to eat, drink and have sexual relationship with one’s spouse as long as one doubts and is uncertain that the dawn has started. Allah (T) and His Messenger (S) have made clear the criterion for establishing the Fajr, and this is what one is required to go by.

The Ruling for Sahoor

The Messenger of Allah (S) commanded that whoever wants to fast must take the Sahoor (pre-dawn meal). He (S) said: “Whoever wishes to fast, then let him eat something for Sahoor.” [Ibn Abi Shaibah, Ahmad and others]

And he (S) also said:
“Take the Sahoor because in the Sahoor is Barakah (blessings).”[Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Then he (S) also prohibited the Muslims from neglecting it. He (S) said:
“What differentiates our fast from the fast of the People of the Book is the Sahoor meal.” [Ibn Abi Shaibah, Ahmad]

It is clear that the Messenger (S) emphatically commands us to eat the Sahoor from three different angles:
(a) He (S) ordered it.
(b) It is one of the highlight of the Muslim’s fast and it distinguishes the fast of the Muslim from the fast of others.
(c) He prohibited us from neglecting it.
All three of the above inferences are very strong and they all seem to be pointing to one specific thing.



















SELAMAT BERPUASA DAN MENUNAIKAN SOLAT TARAWIH (^_^)