THE SPECIAL NIGHT OF RAMADHAN

ISTIGHFAR

A man once came to al-Hasan al-Basri and complained to him: “The sky does not shower us with rain.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness (i.e. say أستغفر ألله).”

Then another person came to him and said, “I complain of poverty.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness.”

Then another person came to him and complained, “My wife is barren; she cannot bear children.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness.”

The people who were present, said to al-Hasan: “Everytime a person came to you complaining, you instructed them to seek Allah’s forgiveness?”

Al-Hasan al-Basri said, “Have you not read the statement of Allah? ‘I said “Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance; increase you in wealth and children; grant you gardens and bestow on you rivers.”‘” [Nuh (71):10-12]

There are two things in the earth that give a person safety and security from the punishment of Allah. The first has been removed, whilst the second still remains. As for the first, it was the Messenger of Allah (صلي ألله عليه و سلم).“Allah would not punish them while you were among them.” [al-Anfal (8):33] As for the second, it is istighfar. “Allah would not punish them as long as they sought forgiveness.” [al-Anfal (8):33]أستغفر ألله… أستغفر ألله… أستغفر ألله…

Do not ever leave istighfar!

Please share and remember that you will receive the reward for all those who make istighfar, due to your reminder.

Astaghfirullaaha wa 'atoobu 'ilayhi.
I seek the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him. (Recite one hundred times in Arabic during the day)
It is reported in Saheeh Muslim that Prophet Muhammad SAW said: “I seek forgiveness one hundred times in a day.” [Muslim]

Rasulullah SAW  said, “If anyone continually asks forgiveness, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, relief from anxiety, and will provide for him from where he never realized.”
[Abu Dawood]

GOD IS WITH US

A BEAUTIFUL DU'A

Al-'Abbās, the uncle of the Prophet SAW, came to the Prophet saw and said, “Ya Rasūlullāh, teach me a du'ā'.”
The Prophet SAW said, “O my uncle, say:
  " Allāhumma inni asaluka al-'āfiyah (O Allāh, I ask you for 'āfiyah).”
What is 'āfiyah? 'Āfiyah means “to save me from any afflictions.
To be healthy, you are in 'āfiyah.
To have enough money to live, you are in 'āfiyah.
To have your children protected, you are in 'āfiyah.
And if you are forgiven and not punished, you are in 'āfiyah.
 'Āfiyah means “O Allāh, protect me from any pain and suffering.”
This includes dunya and ākhirah.
Al-'Abbās thought about this for a while, and then he came back after a few days and said (paraphrased), “Ya Rasūlullāh, this du'ā' seems a little short. I want something big.”

The Prophet saw said, “My dear uncle, ask Allāh for 'āfiyah for wallāhi, you cannot be given anything better than 'āfiyah.” It is a simple du'ā'. Sincerely mean what you say. “O Allāh, I ask You to be saved from any distress, grief, hardship, harm. Don't test me.” All of this is included in “Allāhumma inni asaluka al-'āfiyah”


Ameen

Children of RALK during the Al Quran recitation session after the Subuh prayers

RAMADHAN - A MONTH OF MERCY AND BLESSINGS

RAMADHAN IS HERE

Children of RALK began their first day of Ramadhan with Quranic recitation and translation

Ouch! My heart is in distress when Ramadhan appears
It is as if something is not right
I feel stressful always with its presence
In case I do not greet its arrival as well as I should
For me, the presence of Ramadhan is liken to the presence of a highly revered guest
Presence of someone revered and dignified
The arrival of someone renowned and respected
Someone who is loved and idolized
An idolized figure for one and shared by all
Ouch! How should I welcome someone like this?!
Nothing seems right
Ouch! It is worrying, which way and how should I dignify him?!
Nothing seems right
Ouch, it is worrying, which way and how should I dignify him
Befitting his greatness
Proportionately matched with his dignity and prominence
The reason for me being anxious always with his appearance
Whether I am being impolite with him
I am afraid of damaging his honour
He is a prominent man
Whom we should greet accordingly with his prominence
If he does not appear, it may be better
than for him to appear
But it has been destined by God
that he visits us once a year
Let’s greet him with deep feelings of anxiety and concern

HUMANS ARE FORGETFUL BEINGS

 
Humans are forgetful beings
they forget their God
who created them from naught to being
who bless upon them with diverse pleasures

They forget their sins
yet, they are being chased by their sins
which will throw them into hell

They forget their parents
who raised them during their early years
sending them to school to gain knowledge
nursing their health, for them to be fit and healthy

Reaching adulthood, with knowledge gained
they become useful assets
yet, they forget their devoted and helpful teachers
who provide them vast education which in turn become their wealth
Paying cordial visits to their former teachers is unheard of
they seem to have forgotten their teachers entirely

They forget their helpful friends
who were supportive during their difficult times

They forget their roots, they forget who they actually are
They are dazzled by fame, comfort and wealth

When they are reminded of their hometown
the place where they grew up
they feel uneasy
they are embarrassed to return to their hometown

In fact, there are many things which they have forgotten
Yet, those things mentioned are part of their life history
By right, human beings should have this attitude:
As a Malay saying goes...
"We can memorialize the exact spot we fell down,
we should remember more of the places where we had fun and joy."