Urgent Dua Needed

In the name of Allah 
Assalamu alaaykum dear sisters

A sister of ours is in need of your sincere duaaa. Please include her in your duaas after prayers and make a sincere request to Allah to help her.

Here is the message about that sister who is suffering :
"I do need dua for one of my sister. She is suffering cancer and right now she is in hospital and having radiation therapy for cure. She has a 9 month old baby and a 10 years old boy. Could you please ask all sisters to make dua to cure her very soon and gives her husband and  her family very good patience.

barak Allahu feekum

The Ideal Muslimah: Lecture 5- teacher Umm Yusif

Ideal Muslimah
Lecture #5

(From the book Ideal Muslimah by Dr. Muhammad Ali al-Hashimi)

Chapter 1: The Muslim Woman and Her Rabb (cont.)

1.   She Fasts During the Day and Prays at Night in Ramadan  p. 21

The true Muslim woman fasts the month of Ramadan, and her soul is filled with faith that: "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Therefore the wise Muslim woman must strike a balance, during this all-too-short blessed month, between her domestic duties and the opportunity this month brings to draw closer to Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) through worship and good deeds. She should not let her household chores distract her from performing the obligatory prayers at the appointed times, or from reading Qur'an or praying nafil prayers. Nor should she let traditional late-night family gatherings keep her from praying qiyam allay and tahujjud, and making du`a'.


2.   She Observes Nafil Fasts

The true Muslim woman also observes nafil fasts at times other than Ramadan, if it is not too difficult for her to do so. So she fasts the day of `Arafat, and `Ashura', and the ninth day of Muharram, because fasting on these days and others is one of the righteous deeds that may expiate sins, as the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) told us:

Abu Qutadah (radi Allahu anhu) said: "The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) was asked about fasting on the day of `Arafat, and he said: `It is an expiation for the sins of the previous year and the current year.'" [Muslim]

Ibn `Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) said that the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) fasted the day of `Ashura', and commanded others to fast on this day too. [Muslim]

Abu Qutadah (radi Allahu anhu) said that the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) was asked about fasting on the day of `Ashura', and he said: "It is an expiation for the sins of the previous year." [Muslim]

Fasting six days of Shawwal is also encouraged, as the Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever fasted Ramadan then followed it with six days of Shawwal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime." [Muslim]


Other recommended fasts: three days of each month and Mondays and Thursdays



3.   She goes on Hajj to the sacred House of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala)  




4.   She is obedient to the commands of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala)


The true Muslim woman does not forget that she is duty bound to perform all the religious duties that Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has commanded her to do.


Some stories of the righteous female predecessors.

5.   She is obedient to the commands of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala)    

The story related to this ayah.
(It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option about their decision: if anyone disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.) (Qur'an 33:36)



Request of Dua + New Classes

In the name of Allah 
Assalamu alaaykum dear sister 

alhumdulillah praise and thanks be to Allah 
we have some news to announce : 

1)  our teacher : sister Tahira had just got married ( alhumdulillah ... ma sha Allah ,tabarak Allah ar Rahman ar Raheem ) , please kindly make duaa for her ,may Allah bless her righteous good family with all happiness in this dunia and akhirah ,the coming sunday class will be on time ,alhumdulillah 

2) New classes open for registration ,if you wish to join the class ,please send email + your SKYPE ID to add you to class :
a)  KIDS QURAN FOR BOYS with a new male teacher : brother Omar ( who has ijazah )
on Every Saturday 5:00pm Egypt time ( 10am EST /3pm UK /6pm KSA) ,Starting Mar 8 ,2014
If you wish to switch from the old class to this new class , please send  email to request 
Note : this kids quran class on Saturday for boys, you can only choose one teacher to attend ( since same time ) 

b) Quran recitation class on Every Saturday night US /Canada time  9:30pm EST , Every Sunday morning 4:30am Egypt time with new teacher sister Fatemah al Zahraa 
Starting Mar 9,2014 ( Sunday Egypt time ) , USA Mar 8 ,2014 ( Saturday Night ) 
if you wish to switch from old class ,please also send email to request 

3) Note : Mar 9 2014 Sunday morning : all USA cities /Canada Day light saving starts 
New class time table according to your new timing will be sent on Mar 9 2014 ,in sha Allah 
Europe, Asia , Middle East most cities Day Light saving starting Mar 30 ,2014 in sha Allah 

4) sister Fatima from Korea passed away : please kindly make duaa for her and her family ,may Allah forgive her sins ,and raise her to higher jannah ,ameen 

Jazakumu Allahu khairan

NEW class OPEN for Registration: Learn how to read Quran

In the name of Allah 
Assalamu alaykum dear sisters 

Its our pleasure to inform you that a new class to teach you how to read Quran through studying a book called "  Noor al Bayaan " 
( a book very similar to Qayedah alnouraniyah ) 
with a New quran teacher -- her name is sister Ehsan 

Class name : Learn how to read Quran 

teacher : sis Ehsan 

class time : Every Sunday 9:30pm Egypt time  ( Starting Mar 3 2014 ) 
duration of class :1 -1.5hours 

any sister wish to join this class please send an email to register with your SKYPE ID 

Please download the book through this link 


or 
request through Skype or email

NEW Quran class OPEN for Registration

In the name of Allah 
Assalamu alaykum dear sister 

A new Quran class will be added to Every Monday morning at 4:30am Egypt time 
5:30am KSA / Makkah time ,  2:30am GMT /Sunday  9:30pm EST 

If you want to join please send an email with your Skype ID to register for this class 

** Note : sister Noha also give Quran class on Every Wednesday morning at 4:30am Egypt time  ( US / Canada Tuesday Night )

**Note : at same time we have already another Quran class with sister Hanan 
( which means the same timing we have two Quran classes with two different teachers )
Please kindly mark which teacher you prefer.

NEW CLASS: Life in al Barzakh

In the name of Allah 

Assalamu alaykum dear sister 

we are pleased to inform you , a new Life lesson by following a new book with teacher : Khadijah (Kathryn Jones) is now open for registration : 


class time : Every Thursday

8:30pm Egypt Time / 6:30pm GMT / 1:30pm EST / 9:30pm KSA 

will start Feb 27 ,2014 on skype messenger 

any sister wish to join this class please send email with skype ID to add you to class 
Book name :
Life in Al-Barzakh
by
Muhammad al-Jibaly
( please make sure you download the book from this link before attend the class  --- )
( you may also download the PDF file from attachment )

"Until, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord! Send me back. Perhaps I may do good in that which I have left behind !" No! It is but a word that he speaks, 
and behind them is a Barzakh until the day when they are raised up.

(Surah al-Mu'minun 23:99-100)


Chapter 1 & 2 already given , teacher will start chapter 3 on Feb 27 2014 
you may listen chapter 1 & 2 over this recording link :    

Ideal Muslimah- 4th lecture- teacher Umm Yusif


Ideal Muslimah
Lecture #4

(From the book Ideal Muslimah by Dr. Muhammad Ali al-Hashimi)

Chapter 1: The Muslim Woman and Her Rabb

1.   She Prays Sunnah and Nafil Prayers (cont.) p. 18

The Prophet (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) taught that the most beloved deed in the sight of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) is that which is done continuously, even if it is a little, as is stated in the hadith in which `A'ishah   (May Allah be pleased with her) said: "The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alihi wa sallam) said: ` The most beloved deed to Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) is that which is continuous, even if it is little.'" If `A'ishah started to do something, she would adhere to it. [Bukhari and Muslim]

a. Optional Prayers:
1098. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I performed along with the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) two Rak`ah of optional prayers before Zuhr and two after the Zuhr (noon prayer), and two after the Friday prayer, and two after the Maghrib (evening) prayer, and two after the `Isha’ (night) prayer.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: There are two kinds of Nawafil which are performed before or after the obligatory prayer. Firstly, the one which were performed by the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) more frequently. According to the present Hadith, their total comes to ten Rak`ah while in other Ahadith their total is twelve or fourteen Rak`ah. They are called Sunnah Mu’akkadah or As-Sunnan Ar-Rawatib That is, the Rak`ah which are proved from the saying and practice of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and which were performed by him usually. These are said to be Compulsory prayers. Secondly, such Nawafil which were not performed by the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) regularly. These are called Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah and are said to be Optional prayers. In any case, Nawafil have great importance in creating a special link between the worshipper and Allah, and for this reason the believers do not neglect them. But their status in Shari`ah is of Nawafil the performing of which is rewarding and omission of which is not sinful. One thing that should be borne in mind in respect of As-Sunnan Ar-Rawatib or Mu’akkadah is that it is better to perform them at home. This was the usual practice of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), and this is what he ordained the Muslims.
1099.`Abdullah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "There is a Salat (prayer) between every Adhan and Iqamah; there is a Salat between every Adhan and Iqamah.” (While saying the same for the) third time (he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) added), "It is for him who desires (to perform it).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: The two Adhan here means Adhan and Iqamah, as has been elucidated by Imam An-Nawawi. That is, offering of two Rak`ah between Adhan and Iqamah is Mustahabb (desirable). It comes in the category of Ghair Ratiba or Ghair Mu’akkadah Nawafil. These Nawafil can be performed after the Adhan of every Salat before the congregation stands for the obligatory Salat.
From Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen


2.   She Performs Her Prayers Properly

The true Muslim tries hard to perform her prayers properly, with deep concentration and precision of physical movements. She thinks about the meaning of the ayat she is reciting, and the words of praise and glorification that she is uttering. Her soul is flooded with fear of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala), and with gratitude to Him and sincere worship of Him.

a.   She says the adhkar after prayers and mornings and the evenings

"Whoever glorifies Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) (says subhan Allah) after every prayer thirty three times, praises Allah   (says al-hamdu lillah) thirty three times, and magnifies Allah   (says Allahu akbar) thirty-three times, which adds up to ninety-nine, then completes one hundred by saying La illaha ill-Allah wahdahu la shaika lah, lahu'l-mulk wa lahu'l-hamd, wa huwa `ala kulli shayin qadir, his sins will be forgiven, even if they were like the foam of the sea." [Muslim]

Dhikr Chart:



3.   She Pays Zakat on Her Wealth

a. Jewelry
b. Punishment for not paying zakat



4.   She Fasts During the Day and Prays at Night in Ramadan  

The true Muslim woman fasts the month of Ramadan, and her soul is filled with faith that: "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Therefore the wise Muslim woman must strike a balance, during this all-too-short blessed month, between her domestic duties and the opportunity this month brings to draw closer to Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) through worship and good deeds. She should not let her household chores distract her from performing the obligatory prayers at the appointed times, or from reading Qur'an or praying nafil prayers. Nor should she let traditional late-night family gatherings keep her from praying qiyam allay and tahujjud, and making du`a'.



Is there any difference between tahajjud and qiyaam al-layl?

What is the difference between Qiyam ul Layl and Tahajud? Also, What are the rewards for he who prays these prayers?
Praise be to Allaah.
Qiyaam al-layl means spending the night, or part of it, even if it is only one hour, in prayer, reading Qur’aan, remembering Allah (dhikr) and other acts of worship. It is not stipulated that it should take up most of the night. 
It says in Maraaqi al-Falaah: What is meant by qiyaam is spending most of the night in worship, or it was said: spending one hour of it, in reading Qur'aan, listening to hadeeth, glorifying Allah (tasbeeh) or sending blessings upon the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). End quote. 
Al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah, 34/117. 
Tahajjud means specifically praying at night, and some scholars limited it to prayers that are offered at night after sleeping. 
Al-Hajjaaj ibn ‘Amr al-Ansaari (may Allah be pleased with him) said: One of you thinks that if he gets up at night and prays until morning comes that he has done tahajjud. But in fact tahajjud means praying after sleeping, then praying after sleeping. That is how the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah upon him) prayed. Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said in al-Talkhees al-Habeer (2/35): Its isnaad is hasan; it includes Abu Saalih, the scribe of al-Layth, and it is somewhat weak. It was also narrated by al-Tabaraani, whose isnaad includes Ibn Luhay‘ah, whose report is supported by the one that came before it. End quote. 
Thus it becomes clear that qiyaam al-layl is more general than tahajjud, because it includes prayer and other actions, and it includes prayer before and after sleeping. 
But tahajjud is exclusively praying, and there are two opinions concerning it. The first is that it means praying at any time of the night, which is the view of the majority of fuqaha’. 
The second is that it is prayer after sleeping. See: al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 2/232. 
Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “And in some parts of the night (also) offer the Salaah (prayer) with it (i.e. recite the Qur’aan in the prayer) as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional prayer Nawâfil) for you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqâm Mahmûd (a station of praise and glory, i.e., the honour of intercession on the Day of Resurrection)” [al-Isra’ 17:97]
Tahajjud comes from hujood, which is doing one thing and the opposite, it so the word hajada may mean he slept or it may mean he stayed up at night, which are opposites. 
Tahajjud means waking up after sleeping, and it became a name for prayer, because the individual wakes up for it. So tahajjud means getting up to pray at night. This meaning was given by al-Aswad, ‘Ilqimah, ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn al-Aswad and others. 
Ismaa‘eel ibn Ishaaq al-Qaadi narrated from the hadeeth of al-Hajjaaj ibn ‘Amr, the Companion of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah upon him) that he said: Does one of you think that if he gets up and spends the entire night in prayer that he had prayed tahajjud? Rather tahajjud is praying after sleeping, then praying after sleeping, then praying after sleeping. This is how the Messenger of Allah (blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed.  
And it was said tahajjud means sleep, as it is said in Arabic, Tahajjada al-rajul, meaning the man stayed up, and alqa al-hujood, i.e., sleep. And the one who gets up to pray is called mutahajjid. End quote from Tafseer al-Tabari, 10/307. 
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: What is the difference between Taraweeh, Qiyaam and Tahajjud? Please advise us, may you be rewarded. 
He replied: Prayer at night is called tahajjud or qiyaam al-layl, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And in some parts of the night (also) offer the Salaah (prayer) with it (i.e. recite the Qur’aan in the prayer) as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional prayer Nawâfil) for you”
[al-Isra’ 17:79]
“O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)!
2. Stand (to pray) all night, except a little”
[al-Muzzammil 73:1-2]
“They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allaah) and praying, with fear and hope]”
[al-Dhaariyaat 51:17]
With regard to Taraweeh, the scholars use this word to refer to qiyaam al-layl in Ramadan at the beginning of the night, which should be made light and not lengthy. It may also be called tahajjud or qiyaam al-layl. 
And Allah is the source of strength.
End quote from Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 11/317. 
For more information on the virtues of qiyaam al-layl and the reward of the one who does that, please see the answer to question no. 50070.
For more information on measures that will help one to do it, please see the answer to question no. 3749
And Allah knows best.