forgiveness and a great reward

"Verily, the Muslims...:
1) the men and the women who are OBEDIENT (to Allah),
2) the men and women who are TRUTHFUL (in their speech and deeds),
3) the men and the women who are PATIENT
4) the men and the women who are HUMBLE (before their Lord Allah),
5) the men and the women who give SADAQAT,
6) the men and the women who observe FAST during Ramadan...
7) the men and the women who REMEMBER Allah much with their hearts
8) PRAY extra additional Nawafil prayers of night in the last part of night

Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise). (33:35)



In Ramadhan, ALL of these qualities (humility, patience, obedience) are important for us in order for our fasts and worship to be accepted by Allah.

How can we achieve this?

* OBEDIENT: From gaining knowledge we learn how to obey. See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hasana/links/Islamic_Knowledge____001158166333/
* TRUTHFUL: Learn about the importance of honesty and justice http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hasana/message/62
* PATIENT: Patience comes from test and trials. See the story of Taif: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hasana/message/39
* HUMILITY: By helping others and being grateful through community service. http://www.thehungersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites and http://www.habitat.org
* SADAQAT: Being grateful for our blessings and helping others. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hasana/links/Islamic_Charities_001132295909
* REMEMBRANCE (DHIKR): Recitation & Supplications. http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa/dua.html
* PRAY: Praying on time is important for our deen. See Prayer times: http://www.islamicity.com

Ramadhan gives us an opportunity to be dedicated to Allah. Each of us can develop a plan to benefit from and we can earn grace from God, the Almighty.

* Donate to charities.
* Improve and mend relations among friends and relatives.
* Try to break your fast with others.
* Donate an Islamic book to your local library
* Spend extra time with your family
* Invite non-Muslims and neighbors to your iftaars and gatherings

Also, try to utilize Ramadhan as a month to lose bad habits and start good ones!

* Eat healthy! Food tips for Ramadhan: http://www.crescentlife.com/spirituality/diet_during_ramadan.htm
* Stop Smoking! See: http://www.quitnet.com/
* Fasting during Ramadan: a Muslim Pharmacist's Perspective http://www.pharmj.com/Editorial/20011110/articles/ramadan.html

It is our duty to make the most of fasts and to make the most of Ramadhan.

Our Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
"Whoever does not give up lying and evil actions, then Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink” (Bukhari).

Finally, everything mentioned is from the advice of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

“O people there comes over you now a great month

1) A most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than a thousand months.
2) It is a month in which Allah has made fasting compulsory by day.
3) And has made Sunnah the Taraaweeh prayer by night.
4) Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had performed a Fardh in any other time.
5) And whoever performs a Fardh, shall be blessed with the reward of seventy Faraidh in any other time. This is indeed the month of patience, and the reward for true patience is Jannah (paradise).
6) It is the month of sympathy with one’s fellowmen.
7) It is the month wherein a true believer’s sustenance is increased.
8) Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast at sunset, for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell), and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who fasted (who he fed) without that persons reward being decreased in the least…
9) This is a month, the first of which brings Allah’s mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the fire of Jahan-nam.
10) And whoever gave a person who fasted water to drink, Allah shall grant that giver to drink from my fountain, such a drink where after that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters Jannah."

(Saheeh ibn Khuzaimah)