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A Suggested timetable for Ramadhaan
In order to maximise our time and perform our 'ibaadat with
ease, we should try to follow a set routine or timetable.
1. We must wake up for suhoor as it is a Sunnah of our Rasool
(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). He has informed us that
the food of suhoor is full of Barakah: "Eat suhoor, because
in it lie great blessings." (Bukhari, Muslim) We should
arrange our time for suhoor in such a way that we are also
able to perform at least 4-8 rak'at of tahajjud together with
du'a for about 15 minutes or more. Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam) has said that the du'a in the darkness
of the night (after tahajjud) is readily accepted by Allah. (Tirmizi)
2. The ideal way to perform tahajjud with suhoor is to wake
up early and perform tahajjud and make du'a before suhoor.
Everyone in the house should wake up and engage in 'ibaadat
in the darkness and isolation of their own rooms. Shed tears
and ask Allah ta'ala for your needs just as a small child
cries and gets his needs fulfilled. Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam) has encouraged his followers to cry when
making du'a.
Crying and weeping attracts mercy. Just as a mother who, upon
seeing her child crying for a sweet, will succumb at the
sight of the child's crying and treat it with mercy,
similarly when one sheds tears whilst beseeching his Lord,
the Mercy of the Lord will enshroud him.
3. After tahajjud and suhoor, we must pray our Fajr Salaat
with congregation. Ladies should also perform their
obligatory Salaat.
4. After Fajr remain engaged in 'Ibadat till 15-20 minutes
after sunrise and perform 4 rak'at ishraq.
5. Before zawaal, perform Salatud Dhuha (chasht). Rasoolullah
sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, 'There is charity on each
joint of everyone of you in the morning. To say subhanallah
once is charity, to say alhamdulillah is also charity, to say
laa ilaaha illallah is also charity, to command goodness and
forbid evil is also charity, and two rak'at at the time of
dhuha (chasht) is sufficient for all his charity.' (Muslim)
6. Perform Zuhr with congregation. If possible, engage in 'Ibaadat
for a while and have a short rest with the intention of
qayloolah - a Sunnah of our beloved Nabee (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wasallam).
7. Perform Asr. The time between Asr and Maghrib is very
valuable especially for Du'a. We must make the effort to
perform our Asr with congregation and then remain in the
masjid until Maghrib. Unfortunately Shaytan and nafs have
deceived us so much that many of us cannot do, without food
in the masjid at the time of Iftaar. My friends we should try
to change our habits and keep the akhirah in our minds.
Shaytan and nafs will take us home for some food, which
should only take a few minutes, and will not let us come to
the Musjid until just before Maghrib. This is the best part
of the day, which we do not value, only because of our desire
for food. Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, 'There
are three groups of people whose Du'a is not rejected; the
fasting person until he breaks the fast ... ... ". (Ahmad)
When Allah has made a promise through His Nabee sallallahu
alayhi wasallam there is no doubt in the acceptance of these
supplications. In spite of this, we find some people whose
prayers are not answered. This does not mean that their
prayers have been rejected. It is Allah's, favour upon us
that should He find that granting us what we ask from Him is
in our interest, He grants, otherwise not. Another point to
remember is that there are certain conditions in the absence
of which they may be rejected. Among these is Halaal food and
making Du'a with attention and concentration. If our hearts
and minds are not in our Du'a, then they may not be answered.
My friends, we must make the habit of bringing a few dates
with us at the time of Asr and after Asr we must engage in
zikr, tilawat, tasbeeh, etc. until just 15-20 minutes before
Maghrib when we should raise our hands in Du'a until Adhaan.
In this way, everyone will be engrossed in their own 'ibaadat
and we will find that if some of the individuals are crying
others will also get the inclination to do the same.
Therefore value this time between Asr and Maghrib and do not
waste it in worrying about food. The saintly people are such
that not even if gold and silver, never mind food, will
distract them. Their concentration in their Du'a is not
affected; whereas, we would not even be able to concentrate
if only a small morsel was to be put in front of us. I would
request my sisters not to spend the time between Asr and
Maghrib in the kitchen.
8. After performing Maghrib, we should perform 6 Rak'at of
awwabeen after the two Rak'at sunnat and two rak'at nafl of
Maghrib. However, those who do not feel inclined to do this,
some Ulama have said that two rak'at sunnat and two rak'at
nafl of Maghrib can also become part of the 6 rak'at awwabeen.
Hence, performing only two rak'at after the sunnat and nafl
of Maghrib will suffice.
9. During the winter months in Britain there is a lot of time
between Maghrib and 'Isha. After food, we should sit the
household together and read from Virtues of Ramadhan by
Shaykhul Hadeeth Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya for at least 15
minutes, followed by tilawat, with all the members of the
family joining in. This will create a good atmosphere and
environment in our homes and at the same time Ramadhaan will
pass joyfully with an abundance of Barakah in the home, insha'
Allah.
10. Thereafter return to the masjid and engage yourself in 'ibadat.
Take great care not to get involved in any worldly talk. It
is very upsetting and disheartening to see people wasting
their time in futile talk in the masjid even during the month
of Ramadhan. Try and restrain yourself and remain engaged in
'Ibadat until 'Isha. The sisters should note that 20 rak'at
taraweeh is sunnat-e-mu'akkadah for them too. They must
perform taraweeh after 'Isha.
11. After taraweeh, go straight home. Do not loiter around
outside the masjid wasting time. At home, remain in 'ibaadat
until you go to sleep. Sleep with the intention of waking up
for tahajjud and suhoor.
12. Apart from the above, we know that in Ramadhan there are
always, various programmes taking place in the Musjid led by
our Ulama. These are for our own benefit. There are many of
us who are very sinful and during this month, our hearts are
softened and more receptive; by listening to the wise words
of our Ulama the chances of bringing good deeds into practice
are greater. Although the month of Ramadhaan is solely for 'Ibaadat,
we should try and attend these programmes in the Masjid
because by listening to these discourses, Insha'allah,
changes will come into our lives for the better. Our hearts
are blackened by and full of sins and by listening to these
programmes and sitting in the company of the Ulama and the
pious, change will definitely occur in our hearts,
insha'allah.
Allah's Mercy is in abundance throughout the year, especially
during this month. We should yearn in our hearts for this
Mercy because we need mercy, blessing and forgiveness from
Allah. We are sinful and in this month we want to win Allah's
Attention so that we can become His Beloved Slaves. If we are
eager to perform good deeds then, insha'allah this month will
become a month of great blessing for us.
NOTE: Everyone should try to take rest in order to conserve
energy for the compulsory ibaadat. There is no point in
remaining in nafl 'ibaadat and not getting rest, which will
result in tiredness and laziness at the time of compulsory
Salaat, etc. Hence, every person should fix a convenient time
for rest and include it in the timetable set out above.
May Alllah accept our efforts and make every moment of this
month a means of receiving His Mercy, Blessing and
Forgiveness. May we all be granted a place in Jannah, Aameen.
Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat
Islamic Da'wah Academy (England)
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