Smart goal setting

Can’t find the time and enthusiasm to offer that extra Nafil (optional prayer) you promised this Ramadan. Well we’ve got news for you. You don’t have to feel the way you do right now, anymore. Setting a realistic goal, my friend is the key to your answer. But, realistic approach it should be, please note again!

The main purpose of “goal setting” is to have and then maintain a focus. Focus doesn’t let us deviate from our objective. Channel your all possible efforts to achieve your “set target”, in the form of constant reminders. The idea is to set a goal. Set a goal, WTH! Well the concept is to keep you focused, right? and one way of doing it is to have a goal. Now your target should be realistic, don’t get emotional and over do it. Because you’ll get bored of it as soon as you start it. So, what is the best thing in hand. Well in my oh-so-humble opinion the best thing for you is to set a goal, say

1. You’ll pray an extra nafil with each obligatory prayer.
2. Recite one chapter (sipara) from he Holy Quran with urdu translation. Skip the arabic if you feel like it but the main point should be to read what Allah wants from hjus ad that He has provided us through His noble book. So you need not to feel guilty for not reading the arabic portion.
3. Ask forgiveness from Allah a hundred times, by saying Astag fi rullah or something you please.
4. Praise Allah a hundred times, some of the options can be,

Subhan Allahi WA bi humdihi, subhan Alahil Azeem.
Surah-e-Ikhlas.
Subhan Allah, Allah ho Akbar well you get the idea, no?
you’ll pray an extra nafil with each obligatory prayer.

Recite one chapter (sipara) from he Holy Quran with urdu translation. Skip the arabic if you feel like it but the main point should be to read what Allah wants from us. His guidance that He has provided us through His noble book. So you need not to feel guilty for not reading the arabic portion.

As we all know that the second ashra of Ramadan is almost coming to an end. None the less, we can still make most of the rest of the month if we didn’t take optional prayers (nafil), special dikr or a special something to please Allah Almighty, that seriously as we should have. Oh well it’s never too late.

Just jot down your goal and paste it on your cupboard, mirror, mobile reminder maybe, a some place where just to  keep yu focused. Tick each day whether you did what you were supposed to, daily. And say if you made a goal for one month, check at the end of the time period whether you achieved your goal or what. Keep in mind that there’s always room for improvement and once you achieve your target, set another goal and then another and then another and another.

Ask for me, my goal this Ramadan is, God willing.

1. Learn Surah-e-Rahman and Surah-e-Yaseen by heart.
2. Complete the Quranic translation, by  reading one chapter a day.
3. Offer 10 optional prayers (nawafil) each day.

See, it’s realistically doable, God willing.

So, what’s yours? If don’t have any, there’s no time to lose, get ready, go…

Be pleased to please Allah Almighty.

Have a Goal!

Jazak Allah khair!

True essence of Fasting

With one Ashra down, two more to go, has it ever cross your mind why do we observe fast? What could be the “hikmah” behind it? What is Allah trying to teach us through this Holy month of Ramadan. Is it merely abstaining ourselves from the otherwise halal things in or does it have other motives?

The answers to all these queries and much more regarding fasting: it’s true essence, it’s significance, re-requisites and history has been answered in the following lectures by Javed Ahmed Ghamdi. A dear friend of mine shared these videos with me and after listening to them, there was no way I wasn’t going to post it for you guys.

In a nutshell: Roza slash keeping a fast is a symbolic representation of our complete and pure submission to the will of Allah.

May Allah guide us to the Serat-ul-mustakeem, grant us Hidayat, for if He will not guide us or grant us forgiveness, we shall be ruined.

Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Your grace. Verily You are the Giver of bounties without measure.

Ameen ya Rabul-Aalameen,
Jazak Allah khair!

Final ashra of Ramadan starts

Ramadan is divided into three ten-days parts, or Ashra (Arabic for ten). They are named:-

1. Rahmat (Mercy of God!
2. Maghfirat (Forgiveness of God)
3. Najat (Salvation) respectively.

Laylat ul-Qadr which falls during the last Ashra, commemorates the revelation of the first verse of the Holy Quran and is considered the most holy night of the year.

In Quran Allah describes Lailat aul Qadr in 97th            

Surah-al Qadr in such words:-

“1.Undoubtedly, We sent it down in the blessed and valuable night.
2.And what you know, what the blessed night is?
3.The blessed and valuable Night is better than a thousand months.
4.Therein descend angels and Jibril (the Spirit) by the command of their Lord for every affair.
5.That is all peace till the rising of the dawn.”

Already we are in the final Ashra (ten days) of Ramadan. And last night was the first “Takk Raat” night of 21, 22, 23, 25, 27 and 29th Ramadan. Lailat ul-Qadr is one of these first nights. But nobody knows which one. So each should be given equal attention and importance and yesterday was the first of the them, a night which is better than a thousand months. So watch out for the next one, and try to make most out of this final Ashra.

Ramadan Mubarak everyone once again!