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You need to daily take in some learning. The Islam Channel visits a mosque every week. Take a look on YouTube.

Today I listened to Dr Omar Suleiman in the video “Shaitan prepared you for Dajjal. signs of the hour ep. 4 from the Yaqeen Institute. listening to an imam give talks and lectures on specific topics every day is highly beneficial. Don’t just limit yourself to a talk on a Friday, there is so much to learn.

In this talk, Dr Omar Suleiman really clarifies on what’s the most important thing to focus on in life - and that is the Quran, The Hadith,and the Sunnah, and he gave a warning not to listen to twisted teachings that go away from these, because those teachings come from Shaitan and Dajjal.

He recommends studying and studying and becoming fully acquainted with the teachings of prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), he said that if you become acquainted, soon, if something doesn’t quite sound right, you’ll hear it.

And 1 Corintians 15: 33. Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.

The latter was often used as a Warner to keep members of the congregation away from one another. It effectively acted as some sort of autoimmune disease where the body of the congregation was separated and against each other and one of my least favourite applications because it assumed that ‘we’ were the good associations.

And often more appropriately it was used as a Warner against media, music, literature, all of which insidiously affect thinking.

These warners are found in every religion. From Trinity doctrine churches, to Islam. A warning to be careful of who you make friends with in the negative. And as uncomfortable as it may make you feel, is it not an advance on the thinking that takes you away from nightclubs and drinking, into a congregation of people professing to love God?

So now maybe I need to reevaluate all of that. And just accept that a person‘s religion can remain even in total isolation.. and that perhaps it was a test that I failed. And that I gave up and walked away, and saw an opportunity to go towards something that I’ve been curious about for a long time, namely Islam.

To me the similarities between my previous religion and Islam were striking. To the point where I referred to them as ‘Muslims who follow the prophet Isa (mAbp)’. It was only years later that I realised that it was a misstep, not sufficient. And I had to accept Islam fully.

Any path in life eased by Community with other others of like mind. amBut is it a necessity to keep one’s religion? No. Although we are not prophets nor are as great as them, many people in the past have had to endure isolation even imprisonment and they have not abandoned their faith in Allah. So it is possible for us today even more so to keep to our faith because we are surrounded by people, through videos, through audiobooks, with many books for reading, we have apps to lead the prayer, we have apps to recite the Quran we have apps to teach us how to speak Arabic, there is no lack of support now for Muslims, especially in the west who are English speaking. In fact we have all the supports that we could possibly need. but friendships are a blessing for correction and encouragement.

With all humility accept correction. The brother that corrects your sujood posture, the pronunciation of a mislearnt verse, the ajustment and suggestion of different clothing.

One of the first things you learn about Islam is that yes there is The prostrations there is The memorisation but all of that is nothing if the inner person that you are is not changed and moulded by what you’re learning.

In learning the 2 Rakat recommended to say upon entering the Mosque, write down what you need to learn. Here I have written the Fajr prayer I use. With the bit I struggle with in red. I need to listen and say this over and over, and the memorisation of two rakat will be complete. What app has recited the prayers 5 times a day for me for a year? - Allah be praised for the Namaz App. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/namaz-app-learn-salah-prayer/id1447056625

#prayer #islam #learn

So I begin like a newborn and join a masjid (congregation at a mosque). There’s a blur of introductions and welcomes, a surprising immediate shahada witnessed by a brother and two sisters. Then I’m shown wudu (I’d been doing it wrong, I don’t realise that you always start with the right). Then a sister explained you need to do two rakat on entering the mosque..

Two rakat.. my prayer app repeats, but how do I know where a rakat begins and ends?? I said I didn’t know what a rakat was.. Another sister stands by me for prayer and repeats the lines. By the second rakat I’m reciting along with her on the familiar parts. I feel relief. It is familiar, the same. There is one section that I can’t seem to say and keep up. This is my homework I set myself. Write the two rakat out and practice practice, learn to say it on my own. Especially the difficult bit. Sing it like a song, over and over.

And then I will be ready to enter a mosque and join the Friday prayer. Alhamdulillah!

After Ramadan’s extraordinary effort I also slumped.. I stopped everything but prayer.

So I decided to take down most social media about what I’m learning. 1) because I’m not qualified to teach. 2) I need to focus my energy on learning. Where a small log can help learning, but a wide social media presence is just a time zapping distraction. And I didn’t want any accusation that my learning Islam was motivated for monetary gain.

But this isn’t in any way a shrinking back from Islam. Through a prayer imperative my body has started healing. Allah allowed a few years of rock bottom, so I could understand that the missing piece was Islam. Not just monotheism. I needed to stop drinking alcohol. It was only with intense prayer to Allah that this was finally achieved. I unconditionally surrendered knowing that I couldn’t do it by my own strength. And the reply was instant.

Have We not opened your breast for you? (O Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). And removed from you, your burden. Which weighed down your back? And have we not raised high your fame? Verily, along with every hardship, there is relief (i.e., there is one hardship with two reliefs, so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs). Verily, with hardship, there is relief. So when you have finished (your occupation), devote yourself to Allah's worship, And to your Lord (Alone) turn (all your) intentions and hopes.

The lesson for us is that when we are tested we should be patient and acknowledge that if Allah has put me in this there must be some khair ("goodness," "well-being," "benefit," "best" or "for your welfare") and wisdom in it. Only in discerning this and percieving our alignment to the straight path, then the person can survive his/her test.

Then Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala says, “So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing,” meaning seek relief and solace in Him.

The Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is being told that when you have finished whatever you may have to do, be it a matter relating to the delivery of your message or an affair of this life, then turn with all your heart to what deserves your toil and striving, namely devotion and dedication in worship. Seek Him alone and let nothing whatsoever distract you. A traveler must have his food with him, and this is the real food for your journey. A fighter for a cause needs to have his equipment. And devotion to your Lord is the equipment necessary for you.

This will provide you with ease in every difficulty you may encounter, and with comfort against every kind of affliction you may suffer. The lesson here for us is that never sit idle. Stay busy in something productive. Even when you are doing house chores keep your tongue busy with dhikr (recitation that remembers Allah). Whenever you have a few extra minutes instead of flipping channels or browsing mindlessly, read something. Read some part of the Qur’an. Offer nawafil (extra prayers). Memorize a Surah. It is said that a believer passes away between two actions: one that he just finished doing and the one that he was about to do.

Surah Ash-Sharh (The Relief) English Translation of the Quran Surah 94: ayat 1-8 (whole chapter) and its special reminder to those afflicted or undergoing a trial, to bring comfort and hope.

The phrase said after mentioning 'Allah', is "subḥānahu wa taʿālā", which means "Glory be to Him, the Exalted".

To grow and feel comfortable as a Muslim it doesn't take much memorisation to feel at home. Just a few, often mentioned phrases, can make all the difference. Using the Arabic honorific warms-up the tongue to glorifying God and eases your path. Learning and using the correct honorifics deepens our understanding and appreciation of our creator.

A menstruating woman is exempt from the five daily prayers (Salah) and is prohibited from performing them until her period ends and she performs a ritual bath (Ghusl). Unlike missed fasts, these prayers do not need to be made up later.

At any time it is not permissible to go to the masjid’s main prayer hall to pray, but many hold its ok to be in a side room to listen.

When menstruating it is Haram to fast in Ramadan. You will need to fast at a later date when not menstruating, to make up the days.

Although it feels miserable to not be able to do fard (obligatory) prayer and fast for a few days during Ramadan, there are many Permissible Acts of Worship to engage with to remain spiritually connected.

Dhikr & Dua: Engaging in the remembrance of Allah and making personal supplications.

Listening to Quran: You are fully permitted to listen to recitations from any source.

Islamic Learning: Reading books on Hadith, Fiqh, or other religious sciences is encouraged.

Charity: Giving Sadaqah or helping others remains a highly rewarded act.

Resuming Prayer

Ghusl: Once your bleeding stops completely, you must perform Ghusl before you can resume Salah.

Each meal: one before Fajr and one after Maghrib, you take your time. It becomes a meditative process to drink and to hydrate before it becomes light and after it becomes dark.

Are you like Abu Bakr?

Allah reminds us, in Surah Al-Hashr (59:18), of mindfulness, piety and accountability: "O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do".

Being ready can be a relaxing thing, reducing stress, to know that mentally, spiritually, as well as physically you are prepared as much as you can, for devotional focus to the One True God in all aspects during Ramadan.

Anything of your iman that needs improving, do it now. Have you got the material things ready? Is everything in place food for breaking fast, gifts for Eid? The ingredients for food to share?

What will you do in Ramadan?

Be prepared for all things. Make reciting the Quran your focus, 1 Juz a day. Fast from before Fajr to after Maghrib, No food, no fluids, (unless you have a medical condition that prevents this) no intimacy, no smoking, cleanse. Make duas. Pray Pray Pray. The prescribed time prayers are preparedness for the mind to approach Allah and make duas from the heart. Beg for forgiveness, astaghfirullah (أَسْتَغْفِرُ ٱللَّٰهَ), Allah is merciful. The month is dedicated to self-restraint, patience, breaking bad habits, and avoiding gossip, or attacking. A month to focus on your spiritual health and make permanent improvement, Give Zakat.

Astaghfirullah rabbī wa-atūbu ilayhi.

Allah informs us that He allows humanity to be tried and tested. There are tests with bounty sometimes and sometimes with the afflictions of fear and hunger. The frightened and the hungry persons show the effects of the affliction outwardly and this is why Allah has used here the word `Libas' (cover or clothes) of fear and hunger.

In the Ayat mentioned, Allah used the words: "with something of fear, hunger," meaning, a little of each.

Then (Allah said), "loss of wealth," meaning, some of the wealth will be destroyed,

"lives" meaning, losing friends, relatives and loved ones to death,

"and fruits," meaning, the gardens and the farms will not produce the usual or expected amounts.

This is why Allah said next: "but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient)."

He then explained whom He meant by `the patient' whom He praised: "Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: 'Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.' " Meaning, those who recite this statement to comfort themselves in the face of their loss, know that they belong to Allah and that He does what He wills with His servants. They also know that nothing and no deed, even if it was the weight of an atom, will be lost with Allah on the Day of Resurrection.

These facts thus compel them to admit that they are Allah's servants and that their return will be to Him in the Hereafter.

Trials of the Believer. Quran: The Cow (Al-Baqarah ), البَقرة Surah 2, verse 155.

Quran: Darussalam translation by Drs M Khan & Taql-I’d-Din Al Hilali. Tafsir: Ibn Kathir

Reciter: Abu Bakr_Ash-Shaatree.

This verse qualifies the Islamic nation (Ummah) with the objective 'Wasat', which means "moderate, middle or central", and is usually applied to a thing considered to be the best of its kind.

According to a hadith reported by al-Tirmidhi from the blessed Companion Abu Said al-Khudri, the word Wasat وَسَطً is to be interpreted as "just" - in the sense of being "the best" (Qurtubi). The verse points out that just as Allah has granted to the Muslims a Qiblah قبلہ which is superior to all other orientations, in the same way He has bestowed upon the Islamic Ummah the unparalleled distinction of being moderate, balanced and just - in short, the honour of occupying the central position among all the Ummahs or Traditional communities. This distinction will manifest itself in its full resplendence on the Day of Judgment.

Those among the earlier Ummahs who had been denying their prophets would, on that day, pretend that they had never received a book from Allah nor had any prophet given them any kind of guidance. The Islamic Ummah would, then, be called upon to bear witness, and it would, testify that prophets had been coming from Allah in every age, and providing guidance to each and every people. The earlier Ummahs would raise the objection that since the Islamic Ummah did not exist at that time and could not possibly know what had been happening before it came into being, its testimony against the earlier peoples could not be valid. In reply to this, the Islamic Ummah would maintain that even if it was not an eyewitness to the events of the past, yet it had received an authentic report from the most reliable source of information that can possibly be - that is, from the Last Prophet ﷺ and from the Last Book of Allah. The Holy Prophet ﷺ himself would be called in as a witness, and he would confirm the testimony of his Ummah.

(For details, see the various Ahadith reported in the collections of al-Bukhari, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i and Imam Ahmad).

The most moderate of all people.

Balanced Nation - The Cow, 2:143

Darussalam translation by Drs M Khan & Taql-I'd-Din Al Hilali.

Reciter- Abdullah Basfar. Tafsir Ma' arif Al-Qu'ran.

One of the 6 Articles of Faith fundamental to Islam and a knowledge of Allah is the Day of Judgment & Afterlife (Akhirah): Belief in resurrection, judgment, and eternal reward (Jannah/Paradise) or punishment (Jahannam/Hell).

Our life on Earth is a temporary test for an eternal existence after death, culminating in resurrection and judgment by Allah (God).

Muslims believe everyone will face judgment on the Day of Judgement (Yawm ad-Din) and be consigned to either Jannah (Paradise) for good deeds or Jahannam (Hellfire) for evil, based on their faith and actions in this life.

Recording Angels note all good and bad deeds called the Kiraman Katibin. They are appointed to each person to meticulously record every good and bad deed, word, and even significant intention, which will be presented in their personal "Book of Deeds" on the Day of Judgment as proof of accountability. One angel sits on the right to record good deeds (Raqīb) and another on the left for sins (Atīd).

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Firstly Islam is the way of peace spoken of by early Christians. A direct devotional relationship with the creator of the universe. (pretty amazing huh.) Yes the only real god does actually listen to your prayers, more than that He (actually non gendered but lets use He for now), He is deeply concerned about your wellbeing and future, which is why he has connected with some humans and used them as prophets to speak to humankind.

You've heard the call to prayer haven't you?

Did you close your eyes and really listen? Maybe like me, brought up in the west you wondered what the words meant? And as you close your eyes you can feel it. Deep inside that peaceful response, that desire to submit yourself to God. (or it may have just felt like a deep calm) Either way you've heard and hopefully felt your call to prayer.

Maybe previously you have even bowed down, your forehead on the floor, like the ancient prophets and Jesus ﷺ once did. And without really understanding why it was a good way to pray.

There will be several video's focusing on prayer. But in the meantime take a look at the Thubati channel https://www.youtube.com/@thub_ati There will be daily videos slowly expanding from the beginning - Chapter 1 'The Opening'.