This session was a bit haphazard but the proposal was to have a relaxed session. Topics covered: 1.

Aims of Ramadan 2. Tajweed 3. Taraweeh/congregational prayers 1.0: Aims of Ramadan1: the article below was taken from IqraSense with minor editing and is SubhanaAllah a wonderful read. The month of Ramadan offers us the opportunity to seek Allahs forgiveness, and ask for His blessings that we need to keep us going for our remaining time in this life and the hereafter. However, before we get too engaged in our Ibadat, it is important to remind ourselves of our larger goals for this month in order to make the most of the coming days and weeks. As part of our Ibadat and obedience to Allah this month, we should seek to improve our relationship with Allah by asking for His forgiveness and blessings, get a broader perspective about doing good, strive to excel in all acts of doing good, and more importantly strive to make lasting changes in our behaviour. Perfect your Ibadat in Ramadan to get closer to Allah As we actively engage in the various ibadat in Ramadan, we must remind ourselves that these Ibadats offer us the opportunity to get closer to Allah and to increase our love for Him in our hearts. As Muslims, our faith requires that love for Allah and his prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wasallam peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) supersedes any other type of love that we may have for any other object or creation. Many scholars agree on the basis of sound ahadith that Allah creates a person (and his heart) in such a way that he has the natural inclination to love Allah. However, as a persons heart gets corrupted by doubts, desires and temptations, that love has to be rekindled from time to time through both faith and knowledge. One way we can increase Allahs love in our hearts is to use the opportunity that Ramadan provides us by perfecting our Ibadat. For example, as salah is one of the key ibadat that we will be engaged in during Ramadan, we can focus on increasing the quality of our prayers. We can do so by focusing on what we recite during prayers and by keeping Allah in our mind during that Ibadah. The Prophet (SAW) said: When one of you stands in prayer, he is conversing with his Lord, so let one of you
know what he is saying to his Lord and do not raise your voices above one another in reciting when praying. [Narrated by Ahmad] The importance of prayers is also evident

from this hadith where it was narrated by Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (SAW) said: Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning and evening, Allah will prepare for him an honorable place in Paradise every time he goes and comes [Narrated by al-Bukhaari & Muslim].

http://www.iqrasense.com/ramadan/ramadan-2012-muslim-character-and-behavior-in-ramadan.html

We should use the same principle when engaging in other ibadats such as Quran recitation, dhikr (remembrance of Allah), giving charity, and so on. Lets ensure, therefore, that our intentions when performing those Ibadat are solely to please Allah and to use these Ibadat to increase our love for Him in our hearts. Broaden your scope of good deeds In Islam, good deeds go beyond the realm of ibadat such as fasting and praying. Unfortunately, for many, the broader definition of good deeds rarely gets due focus. As a result, we find within our ranks, many Muslims who although tend to be quite steadfast in praying and fasting but tend to be light in other moral standards that both Allah and the Prophet (SAW) have stressed for us. We can thus use Ramadan to broaden our horizons for doing good deeds that we repeatedly have learned from both the Quran and hadith but rarely practice in our lives. These include: Visiting the sick Repairing fractured bonds and relationships with family members and close relations Being kind and respectful to our spouses Attending funerals. Assisting others in times of need. Generally helping one another Lets remember that the status of good deeds is similar to giving sadaqah (charity). Muaadh bin Jabal (RA) has related from the Prophet (SAW) that Sadaqah extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire. (Ahmad, Tirmidhi). The Prophet (SAW) likened all good deeds to giving charity. He (saw) said: To smile in the company of your brother is charity.
To command to do good deeds and to prevent others from doing evil is charity. To guide a person in a place where he cannot get astray is charity. To remove troublesome things like thorns and bones from the road is charity. To pour water from your jug into the jug of your brother is charity. To guide a person with defective vision is charity for you. (Bukhari).

In another hadith quoted in Sahih Muslim, Abu Huraira narrates that the Prophet (SAW) said: Who began this day fasting? Abu Bakr said: I did. The Prophet (SAW) said: Who
participated in a funeral procession today? Abu Bakr said: I did. The Prophet (SAW) said: Who fed a needy person today? Abu Bakr said: I did. The Prophet (SAW) said: Who visited a sick person today? Abu Bakr said: I did. Then, the Prophet (SAW) said: These things cannot all meet in a single person but that they will enter Paradise. Doing these

good deeds in Ramadan can potentially earn us even more rewards. However, lets ensure that whenever we do any acts of good and charity, we dont boast by reminding people about those acts. These acts of doing good should be solely to please Allah and the matter, therefore, should be between us and Allah. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA) narrated that Allahs Messenger (S) said, one who keeps reminding people of what he has given, will not enter Paradise. (Tirmidhi)

Raise your standards of doing good: Islam encourages us to push ourselves to increase our levels of doing good. Such an effort helps us to improve ourselves even further, which we wouldnt do if not for Ramadan. We know that even the Prophets (SAW) behaviour became better in Ramadan than during the other months. We know from many ahadith that the prophet (SAW) was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous in Ramadan. At that time he used to give more in charity and treat people even more kindly. He would also read more Quran, pray more, recite more dhikr, and spend time in Itikaaf (retreat). Imam Ahmad remarked that, And nothing he

was asked for but he would give it. In the light of that guidance, and motivated by Allahs

promise to reward us more during this month, we should, therefore, push ourselves to increase the extent of doing good.

Commit for a permanent change Ramadan, with its blessings, puts us in high gear to show our obedience to Allah and to seek His pleasure. Though many of us start the month quite enthusiastically, our habits usually prevent us from achieving a long lasting change. So, as we start this month, lets dedicate ourselves for a real change related to increasing the love for Allah in our hearts, reflecting that love in our daily actions by leaving what He doesnt like and embracing the good, and more importantly to carry this change forward beyond Ramadan. The important thing is to get a sincere intention lodged in our hearts and to let that intention guide our behaviour for a sustained change. By doing so, we will notice that Allah will make things easier for us and will elevate our status in this life and the hereafter. The Hadith Quudsi states: if he comes
one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running. (Sahih Al-Bukhri).

Making that permanent change, however, does require that we exert ourselves to break through the old habits and mental barriers. Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir said: I struggled against my own self for forty years until it became right. Umar ibn Abd al-Azeez said: The best of deeds are those which we force ourselves to do. Abd-Allah ibn al-Mubaarak said: The souls of righteous people in the past used to push them to do good deeds, but our souls do not do what we want them to do except by force, so we have to force them. Sometimes doing good may involve a lot of patience and struggle but remember that Allah will reward us according to the efforts that we put in not just the quantity. Conclusion In conclusion, as we look forward to spending the days of Ramadan hoping and praying for Allahs mercy, lets focus on a sustained transformation of our hearts and souls something that can carry us forward for the days and years that remain for us on this earth as well as in the hereafter. Source: http://www.iqrasense.com/ramadan/ramadan-2012-muslim-character-andbehavior-in-ramadan.html

2.0: Tajweed I want to learn to recite the Qur'an with proper tajweed, but don't know where to start. Tajweed is the Science of reading Qur'an correctly. Learning how to recite the Qur'an correctly is an obligatory act upon EVERY Muslim. The first step is finding a qualified Qur'an teacher. The ideal way in which to learn how to read with Tajweed is under the guidance of a qualified teacher so that help can be given regarding correct pronunciation and mistakes corrected. The importance of this cannot be under estimated simply because of the requirement to be heard and corrected. Tajweed and its application can only be learned with a qualified teacher. The rules themselves can be studied independently, but their correct application can only be done by listening to, reciting to, and being corrected by, a qualified teacher of the Qur'an. W hat if there aren't any qualified teachers where I live? It is recognised that there is a lack of teachers and therefore it is not always possible to study alongside one. If this applies to you, please dont let this be the reason to discourage you from embarking upon this very rewarding goal. Your task is going to be a little harder, but certainly not impossible. The bare minimum should be that we at least start to gain an understanding of the rules and make an effort to self correct our reading through listening to renowned recitors, such as Sheikh Abdullah Basfar, Sheikh Al Husari and Sheikh Al Hudaifi. You need to work with tapes of good reciters. There are sets available on the Internet and in Islamic stores that are called "mu'alm". In these sets, the reciter reads a phrase, and then there is a blank space on the tape, allowing the student to repeat what the reciter has just read. You will need to work on the pronunciation of letters by getting a description of the articulation points and practice placing your tongue, lips, or finding the place in your throat where the letter is articulated from, and compare it to the letter when recited by the Sheikh. There are many FREE websites that covers all main areas of Tajweed, packed with definitions, explanations, examples from the Qur'an etc. There also YouTube videos explaining tajweed rules. Download recitations onto your phone, ipod and onto CDs to play in your car. I dont have the time to study tajweed. As little as 15 minutes a day over a period of time will amount to a great deal, and will soon have you 'reading with tajweed ' InshaAllah. One rule per day is both a realistic and reasonable goal. The time you spend in front of the mirror could be spent much more wisely by practising the makhaarij (point of articulation) of letters. Whilst on daily commutes on trains you could listen to recitations on your phone or on CDs in your car. Summary Tips towards learning Tajweed You must find a Qur'an teacher who has studied Tajweed to listen to your recitation and correct you. Tajweed cannot just be learnt from books, because the movements of your mouth as well as the sounds are important and only a teacher can correct you and make

sure you are applying the rules correctly. Sometimes local Mosques will run classes. Qur'an recitation is a science which was passed down generation by generation through teachers not just books, with a direct line to the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) Find a book containing the rules of Tajweed and learn each rule little by little, applying it as you go along with the help of your teacher. There are many concise Arabic books and in English there are some books as well as tapes to help. Look for books with some drawings showing you how to pronounce each letter. Listen to Qur'an tapes of reciters who recite very clearly, at a medium or slow speed (like Sheikh Hudhaify or Sheikh Muhammad Hosary) and try and notice them applying the different rules of Tajweed. Repeat after them while trying to apply the rules you've learnt. Try to copy their tone and melody as well and see how it changes as the meaning of what they're reciting changes. Use tajweed websites. Tajweed Mus-haf: You can get a copy of the Qur'an called Mus-haf at-Tajweed, which has the rules of Tajweed incorporated in the text of the Qur'an in colour coding.! This is very helpful as it prompts you as you go along. There is also a computer program you can buy with it which highlights Tajweed rules with recitation. Read the Quran with a Sheikh reciting in the background and just follow. Try and apply the rules you learn to the Surahs you have already memorised and don't become lazy about reciting correctly. You might have to revise the surahs by looking back at them. Practice and repetition will make perfect insha Allah: As Ibn al-Jazaree says in his poem about acquiring Tajweed: 'And there is no obstacle between it (learning Tajweed) and leaving it, Except that a person must exercise his mouth with it!'

'And recite the Qur'an (aloud) in a (slow and melodious) style (tarteela)' (Surah Muzzammil, verse 4), Ali ibn Abi Talib (radi Allahu 'anhu) said in the explanation of this verse: "at-Tarteel is Tajweed of the letters and knowing where to stop (correctly)". Allah also says in the Qur'an, the meaning of which is: 'Those who We have given the Book to, give it its right in recitation (ie. recite it as it should be recited)' (Surah al-Baqarah, verse 121).

3.0: Taraweeh/congregational prayers. 1. Hadhrat Umar (RA) narrates that the Prophet (SAW) said: Straighten the sufoof, line up the shoulders, close the gaps and become tender in the hands of your brothers. Do not leave any gaps for shaitaan. Whoever joins the saff, Allah will join him. And whoever cuts the saff Allah will cut him. (Bukhari & Abu Dawood) 2. Hadhrat Baraa Bin Aazib (RA) narrates that the Prophet (SAW) used to enter the saff from end to end, touching our chests and our shoulders. He would say: Do not be irregular (in your rows), for then your hearts will become irregular (i.e. discord will overtake you). He would (also) say: Verily, Allah and His Malaaikah dispatch Salaam on the first sufoof. [When the word Salaat is related to Allah Ta ala, it denotes mercy. When it is related to the Malaaikah (angels) it means that they supplicate to Allah Ta`ala to send His mercy upon His servants.] 3. Hadhrat Anas Bin Maalik (RA) narrates that the Iqaamah for Salaat was given. The Prophet (SAW) turned towards us and said: Straighten your sufoof and stand close together, for verily I see you from behind. In a narration of Hadhrat Anas (RA) it is mentioned: Everyone among us would put his shoulder with the shoulder of his companion (alongside) and his foot with his foot. 4. Numaan Bin Basheer (RA) narrates: the Prophet (SAW) would arrange our sufoof. One day he came out (from his home) and saw a man (in the saff) whose chest was protruding in front of the (chests of) the others (i.e. the musallis). He then commented: Straighten your sufoof otherwise Allah will cast discord in your faces (i.e. in the words coming from your mouths). (Tirmizi) 5. Maalik Ibn Abi Aamir Ansaari (RA) narrates: Uthmaan Bin Affaan (RA) would recite in his Khutbah: When the Salaat is ready, arrange the sufoof properly and line up with the shoulders (i.e. the shoulders of the musallis should all be in line and touching). (Muatta Imaam Muhammad)

May Allah Taala guide us and forgive us this Ramadan. Ameen.