thehalalgirl

may this be a day of reflection and rejoicing

this eid, i’m going to step away from social media to be in the moment, with my family, and try to internalize all the lessons this very strange and special ramadan attempted to teach us.

‏كل عام وأنتم بألف خير‏

تقبل الله منا ومنكم صالح الأعمال

عید مبارک

happy eid

however you happen to say it, have a wonderful day!

perform ghusl- make sure you’re squeaky clean before dressing up!

eat after the eid prayer- this is especially for those who are offering a sacrifice, as it is recommended for them to partake from the meat of their qurbani. inversely, on eid ul fitr, we eat before the salah

adorn beautiful clothing- it goes without saying that eid is a time for celebration, which we express through our apparel as well

TAKBEERAT- don’t forget to continue the takbeerat until the 13th of zil hijjah.

eid salah- eid is a day of togetherness and thanking Allah, both of which culminate at the eid prayer.

alternative routes- use a different route when going and coming from salah, as narrated by jaabir ibn abdullah ‏رضي الله تعالى عنه in tirmizi

congratulating each other- meet your brother with a smiling face and spread the cheer!

eid might look a little different this year, with many localities keeping up restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, but less us keep the intention to implement every sunnah of the day and then strive to do those that are still within reach for us. remember, wash your hands, observe social distance, and be as concerned with your brother’s wellbeing as you are with your own.

Pilgrims performing Tawaf this morning. Do you know how blessed you must be to be able to perform hajj on these blessed days? May Allāh accept their hajj and prayers. These people are the wealthiest in my eyes.

may Allah accept all of the hujjaj this year, and all those that stayed home with an intention of going

first thing's first, it happens. beating yourself up now won't change what's already been done (or hasn't been).

secondly, know that Allah ﷻ is the most forgiving, so if He ﷻ wants, He ﷻ can choose to overlook all the mistakes you've made and turn them into good deeds, so never loose hope

now, the most important thing is that you still have time. these virtuous ten days aren't over yet. let's work on making the absolute most of whatever's left.

1. wrote down your goals- this will make them more tangible and once you place them somewhere visible, it'll serve as a reminder of what you ought to be doing. be realistic about how big you make your benchmarks, but don't completely dismiss your ability to give it your all once you get down to it inshaAllah ﷻ

2. make a plan- so, you know you want to recite the entire qu'ran, and you don't have a full 10 days to do it anymore? that's ok, plan out how much you can recite daily in order to complete your goal. similarly, have an approach for each individual goal so you're not left wondering how to achieve them.

3. hold yourself accountable- this varies widely for different people. some like to use a chart or app to ensure they stay on track whilst others need a buddy to check in with. some need a variety of methods. figure out what works best for you and then commit to not letting yourself slide anytime you fail to complete an intended task

4. time is everything- as stated in sura asr, man is at a loss with time. it's truly the one thing we can never get back. try to keep this in mind for the rest of these blessed ten days, so that as soon as you feel you're about to waste time on an app or doing something unnecessary, you snap yourself out of it. the first ten days of zhul hijjah are only 240 hours in total, and out of that, you need time to eat, sleep, and use the bathroom. after that, every hour counts and we can't afford to waste even one.

5. lastly, turn to Allah ﷻ for help- make dua to Allah ﷻ to help you make the most of this beautiful opportunity and keep firm faith in your ability to do so. if you have hope in Allah ﷻ’s mercy, He ﷻ will definitely take care of you.

my dearest sister,

your efforts are still valid. all ten days still remain just as blessed as when you were praying. please don't let this precious time pass you by. seize every opportunity.

here are some ideas to (hopefully) help:

1. azkaar- just because you can't pray or read the quran doesn't mean you can't keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah ﷻ and durood upon our blessed prophet ﷺ. the best zikr on the day of arafah is

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، بيده الخير وهو على كل شيء قدير

another great zikr to constantly recite is

سبحان الله والحمد لله، لا إله إلا الله والله أكبر.

additionally, you can recite the takbeers of the days of tashreeq abundantly.

2. duasss- this is the perfect opportunity to make all the duas you forget to make when you're praying. in place of praying nawaafil, spend an hour and a half asking Allah ﷻ for every little thing you can think of. pray for forgiveness, divine mercy, barakah, goodness in this life and the next, all your needs and wants. be sure to keep the hujjaaj in your duas as well as the entire ummah. and if you remember, please pray for me as well

3. cleaning- if you can get it done when you aren't praying, that'll leave more time for other ibadah when you are. plus, cleaning is a huge part of faith, so you're still receiving rewards!

4. cooking- or any type of meal prep. if you can't fast, still reap the reward of fasting by giving someone else food or drink by which they may break their fast. as the hadith goes, whoever breaks someone else's fast receives the full reward, without taking away anything from the fasting persons reward (أو كما قال ﷺ)

5. studying- build a deeper connection with the quran by brushing up on some tafsir, or if you'd rather, delve into a new aspect of islamic knowledge. educate yourself about the story and teachings of sayyiduna ibrahim ﷺ and learn about the final hajj of our beloved prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

6. quran- and on that note, your ears aren't impure. you can definitely listen to lots of recitation and get a feel for which qiraah style you are most drawn to

7. sins- just because you cannot pray doesn’t mean you should unpause any sins you are abstaining from during these days. stay away from sins at all costs and try to make a firm intention to uproot them completely from your life going forward

8. good character-this isn't a break from trying to be your absolute best self. keep up with the good habits you've been trying to instill within yourself and try your best not to revert back to any bad habits just because you aren't fasting

9. sadaqa-with eid just around the corner, this is the perfect opportunity to give charity. remember, every cent you donate is being multiplied many many times so be as generous as possible, and remember: even smiling is a form of sadaqa!

10. help someone in need-whether a family member, friend, or a complete stranger, try to help at least one person each day. perhaps such a dua will escape their heart and reach the throne of Allah ﷻ that will complexly change your life.

“If one is unable to fast due to menstruation or due to sickness but had the intention to fast, Allaah Ta'aala will reward them as though they fasted.” (Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury)

pray all 5 salahs as soon as the time comes in

read quran for at least 30 minutes after fajr

pray ishraaq

complete the daily azkaar

my dearest sister,

your efforts are still valid. ramadan still remains just as blessed as when you were praying. please don’t let this precious time pass you by. seize every opportunity.

here are some ideas to (hopefully) help:

azkaar- just because you can’t pray or read the quran doesn’t mean you can’t engage in lots of azkaar and durood upon nabi ﷺ

duasss- this is the perfect opportunity to make all the duas you forget to make when you’re praying. in place of taraweeh, spend an hour and a half asking Allah ﷻ for every little thing you can think of

cleaning- if you can get it done when you aren’t praying, that’ll leave more time for other ibadah when you are. plus, cleaning is a huge part of faith, so you’re still receiving rewards!

cooking- or any type of meal prep. if you can’t fast, still reap the reward of fasting by giving someone else food or drink by which they may break their fast. as the hadith goes, whoever breaks someone else’s fast receives the full reward, without taking away anything from the fasting persons reward (‏أو كما قال ﷺ )

studying- ramadan is the month of the quran. just because you can’t touch the quran doesn’t mean you can’t keep a connection with it. brush up on some tafsir, or if you’d rather, delve into a new aspect of islamic knowledge

quran- and on that note, your ears aren’t impure. you can definitely listen to lots of recitation and get a feel for which qiraah style you are most drawn to

work/school- if you have assignments that will be due within the next few weeks, just knock them out now rather than have to stress about end of semester projects and deadlines during the last ten nights of ramadan

good character-this isn’t a break from trying to be your absolute best self. keep up with the good habits you’ve been trying to instill within yourself and try your best not to revert back to any bad habits just because you aren’t fasting

The Best Days of the World

1. Intention

Make the intention for your deeds to be sincerely for Allah ﷻ during these days, and have the conscious intention to expose yourself to the blessings of Allah ﷻ.

Whoever is sincere towards Allah ﷻ, Allah ﷻ will be sincere towards him (meaning He ﷻ will fulfill his wishes).

2. Repentance

Make a table of all the sins that you want to pledge to Allah ﷻ that you will stop doing them.

The Conditions of Repentance:

1. Abandoning the sin completely.

2. Feeling remorse for what has already happened (of sins).

3. Having the firm intention never to return to the sin ever again.

3. Praying

The Five Daily Prayers (in their Fixed Times)

Leave everything behind you as soon as you hear the azaan and get up and pray.

"The best of deeds is prayer during its earliest time."

Remember, you will be doing what our Lord ﷻ loves the most.

4. As-Sunan Ar-Rawaatib

12 Raka'ahs everyday.

(2 before Fajr -4 before Zuhr and 2 after it - 2 after Maghrib-2 after Isha)

"Whoever prays in a day and night 12 raka'ahs voluntarily, Allah ﷻ will build a house for him in Paradise."

Imagine🤍🙏🏻

5. Night Prayer

Any even number of rakaahs, and end them with one rakaah of Witr and make du'a for everything you want.

"And pray during the night when the people are asleep, and you will enter Jannah in peace."

What more could you want?!

6. Duha Prayer

Two to eight raka'ahs, any time between 15 minutes after sunrise till 15 minutes before Zuhr.

It is a daily charity for every joint in your body.

(Also known as Chaast or Awwabeen Prayer.)

7. Fasting

Have the intention to fast the first 9 days of Dhul-Hijjah, as the Messenger ﷺ of Allah ﷻ used to do, especially the Day of 'Arafah.

"Fasting the Day of 'Arafah, l anticipate that Allah ﷻ will expiate (through it the sins of) the year before it and the year after it."

8. Quran

Our goal is to finish reciting the whole Qur'an at least once (during these 10 days):

Day 1 - From Surat Al-Fatihah till the end of Surat Ale 'Imraan.

Day 2 - From Surat An-Nisa till the end of Surat Al-An'aam.

Day 3 - From Surat Al-A'raaf till the end of Surat At-Tawbah.

Day 4 - From Surat Yunus till the end of Surat Ar-Ra'd.

Day 5 - From Surat Ibraheer til the end of Surat Al-Kahf.

Day 6 - From Surat Marlam till the end of Surat Al-Mu'minoon.

Day 7 - From Surat Ash-Shu'araah till the end of Surat Al-Ahzaab.

Day 8 - From Surat Saba till the end of Surat Fussilat.

Day 9 - From Surat Ash-Shura till the end of Surat Al-Hadeed.

Day 10 - From Surat Al-Mujadilah til the end of Surat An-Naas,

9. Zikr

(Remembrance of Allah ﷻ)

Let your tongue be busy with:

100 times at the very least

 ‏سبحان الله

‏الحمد لله

 ‏لا اله الا الله

‏الله اكبر

 ‏لا حول ولا قوة الا بالله

‏الصلاة على الرسول ﷺ

‏استغفر الله العظيم وأتوب إليه

وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَاتٍ ‏

“and mention the name of Allah ﷻ on known days” (al-baqara: 203)

10. Azkaar

(Let these Azkaar also be a part of your day)

1. The azkaar of the morning and the evening.

2. The azkaar after every prayer.

3. Repeating the azaan and the du'a after it.

4. The azkaar before sleeping.

Write down some examples of these azkaar on paper and stick/hang them up where you usually walk.

(meaning where you'd see them a lot, just to be reminded of them as much as possible).

11. Du'a (Supplication)

Write down every single thing you've ever wanted and keep supplicating to Allah ﷻ again and again for it everyday (especially in Sujood, between the azaan and the iqamah, and during the last one-third of the night).

And persist in making even more du'a on the Day of 'Arafah.

And watch all your wishes come true after a while in sha Allah ﷻ.

12. Supplicating for Others

Assign a portion of your du' a for at least a hundred people. Choose ten people everyday from your family, spouse, friends, teachers, and anyone who has ever benefited you in any way, and make alot of dua for them, from your heart.

And make du'a for all the Muslims:

"May Allah ﷻ forgive me and my parents and the believing men and the believing women and the muslim men and the muslim women, alive and deceased"

13. Charity

Do not let a single day go by without giving out some charity, even if it is just a small amount.

Think of ten needy people that you want to help, or put a little money in a cash box everyday and take out and give away the whole amount on the last day.

14. Maintain the Ties of Kinship

Give a call or leave a message everyday to one of your extended family members.

The message can be as follows:

"How are you t/n? l hope you are well. I just wanted to let you know that l am remembering you a lot in my du'as today.”

15. Reviving a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ

Aim to do a Sunnah act everyday, with the intention of reviving the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ

For example:

- Saying Bismillah (before starting anything).

-Sitting down while drinking.

Starting with the right hand or right side (when doing certain things).

- Reciting the opening supplication (in the prayer before reciting Surat Al-Fatihah).

- Performing Wudu before going to sleep.

- Reciting the prescribed dua after making Wudu.

16. Prohibitions

Beware of wasting the best days of the world and the greatest days of worship in:

Watching TV

Social Media

Backbiting

useless talk

Sleeping too much

Perhaps you may never get these days again.

اطلب المستحيل

Be realistic in everything except in prayer,