Catégorie : mood_spirituality

Social life during Ramadan is particularly active: people receive guests or are invited by relatives and friends. The visits are mainly centered around the fast-breaking meal, which is a rich and festive meal, during which the best dishes are served. During Ramadan, some people may not engage in physical activities and, as a result, gain weight during the month. People with diabetes may not control their disease well due to adopting unhealthy eating habits. By following simple recommendations, you can lose weight and lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Maintaining these practices even outside of fasting times is encouraged.

Drink plenty of water (at least 10 glasses) and eat hydrating foods such as soup, watermelon, and green salad.

Avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea and Coca-Cola, as caffeine may cause some people to need to urinate more frequently, which can lead to dehydration. Also remember that sugary soft drinks will add calories to your diet.

Stay out of the sun when temperatures are high. Staying in a cool, shaded place is important.

Recharge your batteries by having a healthy and balanced Iftar.

Eat three dates to break the fast. Dates are an excellent source of fiber.

Incorporate plenty of vegetables into your meals to stock up on essential vitamins and nutrients.

Choose whole grains, which provide the body with fiber and energy.

Enjoy grilled or baked lean meat, skinless chicken and fish for a good portion of healthy protein.

In general, avoid fried and processed foods that are high in fat or sugar.

Enjoy your meal and avoid overeating by eating slowly.

Take a light Suhoor every day. This particularly applies to certain population groups such as the elderly, adolescents, pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as children who choose to fast.

Your meal should include vegetables, a serving of carbohydrates such as whole wheat bread/cakes, protein-rich foods such as dairy (unsalted cheese/labane/milk) and/or eggs, and a accompaniment composed of tahina/avocado. Avoid consuming too many sweets and limit fat and salt intake.

Sweets commonly eaten during Ramadan contain large amounts of sugar syrup.

The sugars recommended for consumption are those present in fruits rich in water, such as watermelon/melon or any other seasonal fruit, such as peach or nectarine.

Try to reduce your intake of high-fat foods, especially fatty meats, foods made from puff pastry, or dough to which fat/margarine or butter has been added.

Rather than frying, it is recommended to use other cooking methods, such as steaming, stewing, sautéing in a small amount of oil, and baking.

Avoid foods containing large amounts of salt, such as sausages, processed and salted meat or fish products, olives and pickles, appetizers, salty cheeses, different types of cakes, salads, ready-to-eat spreads and sauces (such as mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup).

When preparing the meal, it is recommended to reduce the use of salt as much as possible and, of course, remove the salt shaker from the table. Use herbs to enhance the flavor of cooked foods.

Eat slowly and in quantities appropriate to your needs. Large meals cause heartburn and discomfort.

Try to move as much as possible and be active in the evening, for example by going for a regular daily walk.

source emro.who.int

Supererogatory prayers are meritorious practices during the Blessed Month of Ramadan, given the immeasurable benefits they contain.

However, they should be distinguished from the 13 rakacs traditionally performed after each evening prayer (cishâ) which are made up of 10 rakacs as well as shafac (2 rakacs) and Witr (1 rakac).

During the month of Ramadan, these supererogatory prayers become reinforced traditional practices and are held in assembly in mosques under the direction of an imam.

Whoever intends to perform these prayers can perform them after the evening prayer before shafac and witr. On the other hand, the one who has already performed shafac and witr can nevertheless continue his supererogatory prayers according to the number of rakacs he desires without repeating them.

CLARIFICATION: In Islam, it is the night which precedes the day. So when we say first night, it is the night of the appearance of the lunar crescent. To be clearer, the celebration of supererogatory prayers (nafilas) must precede the day of Ramadan. In other words, when we say 12th night, it is the 11th day in the night, that is to say the night of the 11th to the 12th day.

In the sunnah the prophet says in a hadith reported by Muslim  « Islam is founded on 5 pillars: the Attestation that there is no divinity worthy of being worshiped except Allah and that Mouhamed is his messenger , the performance of prayer, the payment of zakat, the fasting of the month of Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca »

Furthermore, if Allah has made fasting this month obligatory, it is not to make us suffer, but rather for wise reasons. Allah legislated fasting for the education of the soul, so that man can tame his passion, train himself in endurance, to bear pain, problems and difficulties. Fasting was legislated to accustom himself to the soul not to follow its passions. Allah has prescribed fasting in order to test you and to know which of you is better in work. Fasting is an effective means of achieving piety, which is the best provision here below and in the afterlife. Dear Muslims! Allah has reserved a great reward for the fasting people. The prophet said in a hadith reported by Bukhari and Muslim « all the acts of the servants return to him, and each benefit will be multiplied by 10, even 700 times except fasting because fasting belongs to me and it is mine to reward the fasting person: He has abandoned his desire, his food and his drink for my sake; the fasting person has two moments of joy, the first is when he breaks his fast and the second when he meets his lord. The smell that comes out of the fasting person’s mouth is more pleasant to Allah than the smell musk perfume” And in another hadith, the messenger of Allah said  “whoever fasts the month of ramanda out of faith in Allah and out of sole desire for his reward, Allah forgives him his previous sins” (  hadith reported by Bukhari and Muslim ) .

Among the merits of this month, there are also, the doors of good which open and the doors of evil which are closed because Satan is chained during Ramadan. This is why the messenger of Allah said:  « when the month of Ramadan is coming, the gates of paradise are open, the gates of hell closed and the devils chained »

It is therefore the month of obedience, rapprochement, beneficence, forgiveness and mercy. Furthermore, brothers and sisters in faith! The Muslim must give importance to learning the jurisprudence regarding fasting. Because knowing the judgments of Islam relating to fasting allows the individual to observe his fast in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet (pbuh). This is why we will recall in what follows, in a succinct manner, some rules having relating to fasting.

Regarding the time of fasting, the Quran says:

(وَكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَب ْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ الص ِّيَامَ إِلَى الَّليْلِ)

“eat and drink until the white thread of dawn stands out for you from the black thread of night” 

(surah 2 verse 187) .

By this he means the appearance of the light of dawn. And just before this moment the prophet recommends that we take suhur (morning meal taken before the start of the fast). He says:  “take the suhur because the suhur contains a blessing” ,  (reported by muslim)  . Whatever the situation, the prophet recommends us to do it, he says:  “take the suhur even with a sip of water” .

It is recommended to delay it until at least a time in which one can recite 50 verses before the dawn prayer. The Messenger of Allah said:  « People will always be well as long as they hasten to break their fast and delay their suhur » ,  (reported by Bukhari and Muslim) . And in the hadith, Zaid who had taken the suhur with the prophet, then they went to perform the prayer, Zaid is asked: “How long did you stay between the suhur and the prayer? »- Zaid replied: “a moment in which one can recite 50 verses”. As for breaking the fast, the Prophet recommends that we do it as soon as the sun sets, according to ibn Omar, the Messenger of Allah said: “when night appears on this side and day begins from the other and the sun has set: the fasting person can break his fast” And in the hadith previously cited the prophet said: “people will always be well as long as they hasten to break their fast”. That is, break up just after sunset.

What to break up with?

“According to Anas, the Messenger of Allah broke the fast with routabs (ripe and fresh dates) if it was not routabs, that is to say dates, it was with a few sips of water”

What is the merit of giving to the fasting person? How to break your fast?

“The Messenger of Allah said: “He who gives the fasting person something to break his fast will have the same reward as him, without this in any way diminishing the reward of the fasting person.” And after breaking the fast it will be necessary to say: The invocation taught on this occasion: “The thirst is gone, the arteries are moist and the reward is obtained if Allah wills. « .

Here are acts that do not cancel the fast

– Vomiting involuntarily

– Having a dream with ejaculation at the time of fasting

– Eating or drinking out of forgetfulness

It is advisable to reduce the consumption of sugar, coffee, cigarettes and possibly tea, especially if you consume a lot of them. This is recommended to minimize possible negative effects on health and well-being during Ramadan. Abruptly stopping these substances can lead to headaches and mood changes that could disrupt the spirituality necessary for fasting.

As Eid approaches, I will start by reading Surah As-Saffat from verse 69 and we will relate to this passage and what is expected of us on Thursday.

Abraham, Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm) , said:  “Hasbya Allahou wa n’imal wakil”  “ Allah is enough for me, he is my best guarantor ” . It’s a phrase that everyone says when they have a problem and it’s important to understand its meaning.

Ibrahim (alayhi  as-salâm)  said this sentence when he was thrown into the fire, when he had problems with his community.

When he said this, Allah  (azwadial) in verse 69 of Surah 62 The Prophets, said: “We then said:  »O fire! Be for Ibrahim with a salutary freshness!  »»

Look my brothers, before I get into the specific subject of dars, the ability, or we can say the strength, of Allah  (azwadial) . Ibrahim was against his community, he broke their statues. When they wanted to kill him, Allah  (azwadial)  could make him escape, like Moses, Mussa  (alayhi  as-salâm) .

Here, Allah  (azwadial)  could have made Ibrahim escape. But no ! He let the enemies, the disbelievers, catch Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm) . They caught Ibrahim, they lit the fire, God could have sent down the rain and put out the fire and it was over, no, simply, Allah  (azwadial)  is telling this little man in this globe, that his ability alone will do nothing.

If Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm) had escaped, what would the disbelievers have said? “If we had caught him, we would have done this, we would have done that” … But they caught Abraham and “Light the fire”, Allah  (azwadial)  does not put out the fire, he leaves the fire burning. And you know what kind of fire? They collected immense wood; moreover, they threw Abraham with a catapult. The flames were so huge that we couldn’t get close to them.

The fire does not go out. There is no rain, no water, nothing. He was thrown into the fire to say to these people: “Even if you take him, even if you light the fire, even if he is inside the fire, Allah is able to say to that fire : do not do anything « . It is Allah  (azwadial)  who created the fire, it is Allah who tells the fire to be cold or hot. This is the power that we forget all the time when we have small problems, we forget that Allah  (azwadial)  is capable of everything. Simply by heading towards Allah and saying “Hasbya Allahou wa n’imal wakil” –  “  Allah is enough for me, he is my best guarantor  ” .

Now, back to Abraham on him peace, Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm) , when he had problems with his family, Ibrahim said in surah As-Saffat, verse 99: “And he said: “I am leaving to my Lord and He will guide me.” His family, his parents and his entire tribe love the statues and want to harm him. So he decides to leave. This is called the first hijra, meaning separating from a community that is not good. When you are in a place and you do not feel good there, you cannot practice your religion properly, you must look for a place where people worship Allah, as He has ordered.

Listen carefully in the verse that follows what Ibrahim is going to say. “Rabbi hab li mina as-salihin”  He asks: “Lord, give me the gift of [offspring] from among the righteous.” Look at the request he makes. We would ask:  “O Allah, give me a child, O Allah, give me an heir” . Here, we clearly see that Ibrahim is not asking for a simple child but a virtuous child, a pious child.

Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm)  has reached a certain age and he does not yet have a child, he asks Allah  (azwadial)  to give him a virtuous child. Allah  (azwadial)  says:

 “So we gave him the good news of a long-suffering boy (Ishmael) (of tolerant patience). Then when he was old enough to accompany him, [Abraham] said: “O my son, I see myself in a dream sacrificing you. So see what you think.” (Ishmael) said: “O my dear father, do what you are commanded: you will find me, if it pleases Allah, among the number of the enduring.” (surah 37 – verse 101)

Allah  (azwadial)  gave Ibrahim a child and this child is Ismail upon him peace. When Ismaïl  (alayhi  as-salâm)  became a young man, when he reached puberty, Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm) will have a companion. Like any parent, I don’t know if you have felt this, when you have the first child, you give him lots of gifts, you pamper him, you walk with him, you are proud, you take him everywhere you go. When his son reached puberty, Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm)  was no longer alone.  

But here is the test of Allah  (azwadial)  : when Ismail became older, God revealed to Abraham in a dream that he must immolate his son, remember carefully, because you will have to make the link with this word and what We’re going to celebrate Aid el Adha.

Listen carefully to the Muslim’s dialogue:

Ibrahim, when he spoke to his father, told him: “Ya abati”. In French, it’s not like Abi « my father », it says « abati », o my dear father. Listen to the father’s response: “Ya Ibrahim”, o Abraham. Have you seen the dialogue between a disbeliever and a Muslim? The Muslim, Abraham speaks to his father and says “Ya abati”; the father, the disbeliever, responds to his son “Ya Ibrahim”.

Now listen to the dialogue between the Muslim father and son:

The father said: “Ya bouneya”, o my dear son. The child will respond: “Ya abati”, o my dear father.

Have you seen the dialogue between two Muslims? We must take a dars (reminder) of the discussion between Ibrahim and his son. It’s an unimaginable lesson and we pass over it like that, we just read. The Quran is an instruction manual for humanity, how to speak, how to discuss, how to function.

So look at this:  O my son, my dear son, I see in the dream that I am going to immolate you . Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm) had this Revelation as it is said in certain tafsir three times. The first time, he had a doubt; the second time it begins to become clearer and the third time he understood that it was a Revelation. And despite this, he takes his son into his confidence.

Many parents, when talking with their children, say something like this:  “You, follow me, now we’re going to go get the sheep.”  If he takes his son with him and his son says to him:  “My father, this sheep is…” “…what do you know about it, shut up!” » . On the other hand, in this story, Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm)  says to his son: “What do you think? « . What does that mean, what does he think about it… it’s an order from Allah… Simply, Ibrahim (alayhi  as-salâm)  wants his son to be in worship.

Children, when they are adults and pubescent, must be taken as friends. Simply, children must be taught that there is a difference between “friends and friends”. You have to take it with you when you go out. Do you want to buy something? Put him in the case: what do you think my son, this sheep is good, would you prefer that we choose another one? Dialogue with your child must be like this, you must give the child a certain responsibility.

Here, we clearly see that Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm)  said to his son: See what needs to be done! Listen to the response of Ismail, another Muslim: “O my dear father, do what you are commanded.” Imagine that… A father who says to his son “I see myself in a dream sacrificing you” and the son who responds “O my dear father, do what you are commanded”. For what ? Because Ismaïl knows his father, he knows how he reacts.

He is not a father like the others, he is a prophet, he is a father who has knowledge, a father who has knowledge, a father who fears Allah, a father who knows what he fact, not an ignorant father.

Besides, I open a little digression to talk about a similar situation: when Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm)  took Hajar his wife and Ismaïl into the desert, Hajar asked: “What are you doing Ibrahim, are you going leave us here all alone? » She repeated this question two, three times but Abraham did not answer. Only later did Hajar realize that Abraham is a wise person.

He doesn’t do random actions, there is a reason. That’s why she asked him the other question. She didn’t say to him “Ibrahim, what are you doing?” ”, but she asks him “Ya Ibrahim, was it God who ordered you to do this? » Ibrahim replies yes. Listen to Hajar’s response: « Since it is Allah who has decided it, you can leave, Ibrahim, because Allah is not going to abandon us, Allah  (azwadial)  will come to our aid. »

Let’s return to this dialogue. (Ishmael) said: “O my dear father, do what you are commanded: you will find me, if it pleases Allah, among those who endure.” You see that Ismaïl understands the situation well. He enters into this test of worship. And what a test! Listen carefully to the following verse, we can clearly see that Ismaïl and Ibrahim are going to take action. “Then when both of them had submitted (to Allah’s command) and he had thrown him on the forehead,”…

What was the test? The ordeal at the beginning only concerned Ibrahim, who sees in a dream that he must slaughter his son. But look at this verse, they both submit, Ismaïl  (alayhi  as-salâm)  entered into this ordeal, this adoration, this submission “… and he had thrown him on the forehead”, you see clearly that the The act will go to the last situation.

When he stretched him out Allah  (azwadial)  said:   

“So We called him “Abraham!” You confirmed the vision. This is how We reward those who do good.” This was certainly the obvious test. And We ransomed him with a generous sacrifice. »

O Ibrahim, you believed in the dream, you carried out what Allah  (azwadial)  ordered you to do. This is how we reward pious men, who listen, who obey Allah. So what will happen? We will see the verse that concerns us for the feast of sacrifice.

What was Abraham going to sacrifice? He was going to sacrifice his son for the worship of God, but when the ordeal came to an end, Allah  (azwadial)  intervened and said in a way, since you believed and took action, I will reward you . What will He give as a reward? “And We ransomed him with a generous sacrifice. » (sura 37, verse 107). The ransom is the sheep. Look carefully: Allah  (azwadial)  replaces Ismail with another ransom, al-fidya, so that Ismail is not sacrificed.

“And We perpetuated his name in posterity: Peace be upon Abraham. Thus do We reward the doers.” In generations to come, Abraham’s name will be spoken. “For he was of Our believing servants. We gave him the good news of Isaac as a prophet among the righteous. » Allah  (azwadial)  gives Ibrahim a sheep to sacrifice in place of his son and, in addition, he gives him another child, who is called Ishaq, also a prophet.

Ibrahim’s ordeal  (alayhi  as-salâm)  consisted of immolating his only son; instead he receives a sheep and then he receives another child. Do you see the greatness of God? Do you see the benefits that Allah  (azwadial)  gives us?

Now, Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm)  received the gift after the ordeal. The story goes that when Ibrahim was going to sacrifice his son, Iblis had problems, big problems. Because Allah  (azwadial) had simply said to Iblis “Prostrate yourself”, and he did not want to obey. Look at Ibrahim. His test was to sacrifice his son, his only son, and he was going to do so.

The sheep came after the ordeal, the first 10 days of Dhul-hijja will bring you to the day of sacrifice, the day of el Aid. In these 10 days, have you had a challenge? Do we make an effort to deserve this sheep on the day of sacrifice?

Someone will perhaps say that he does not prefer to make this sacrifice; he falls into another trap, another problem. It is a blessing that Allah  (azwadial)  gave him. Buy the sheep, make barbecues, give alms and you will earn hassanats. The first drop of blood that flows from your sheep forgives all your family present.

When Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm)  was going to immolate his son, Iblis stood in his way. He told Ismail not to let his father sacrifice him; to Ibrahim  (alayhi  as-salâm)  he said: “Are you going to slaughter your son? « .

Abraham stoned him. This is what we do on the pilgrimage. There are three steles against which stones must be thrown; it became worship.

Iblis wanted to distract Ibrahim from his adoration and the latter threw seven stones at him each time. Unfortunately, at the pilgrimage, people believe that Iblis is still there. They then start throwing stones, sandals…

No, Iblis is no longer here, he is not going to stay here! He was there for the pious Ibrahim. You make this gesture in adoration. If you really want to aim for the stele, aim for it in your heart, in your action.

The day we are going to throw the stones on the steles, some throw the stones insulting ach-Chaytan, some target the stele with stones, sandals, umbrellas, perhaps they will even hurt their brothers. But what are you doing my brother? And as soon as they’re done, they’ll quickly shave their beards! (When one enters the state of ihram, one cannot cut one’s hair). When I was on the pilgrimage, I passed by a group of people; there was one who shaved another’s beard saying:  « Let’s remove this dirt! » » . When they saw me, they were embarrassed…  “Um, it’s not dirt, we’re just kidding!” »   Is this worship? The day you threw the stones on the stele, did you come and shave your beard?

Unfortunately, what happens on El Aid is even worse, it’s war! On this day, insha Allah, it will not just be a question of going and looking for a sheep and slaughtering it. When you say Bismillah Allahou akbar, you will have to realize how this benefit came to be there, why we celebrate Eid.

Islam has two major holidays and one of these two major holidays will take place in a few days. My brothers and sisters, we must realize that as Muslims, the issue is not simply to slaughter the sheep, bring it back and make the méchoui. You have to be careful this day. Imagine that the day you slaughter the sheep, the day you go to make this gesture of worship, that day is the day when we see the majority of Muslims committing lots of sins.

Whether in clothing, in behavior, cousins, friends, they laugh, they kiss, they dance. This day, the day of Eid, the day of worship, is the day when we commit debauchery, when we do the illicit? So what Eid, what kind of Eid do we have?

I remind you my brothers and sisters, be very careful, the days pass, the weeks pass, the months pass, and your year diminishes every day. Someone was asked, “How old are you?” » He replied: “I am 30 years old”. No, the 30 years, you lost them. They have already left. My brother, my sister, how many are you, 25, 40 years old? They are gone, they will never come back.

My brothers and sisters, realize that the entire life of a Muslim is worship. His life, all these movements are adoration. Going to visit the sick is adoration; going to sleep is worship. It’s all worship. There is no waste of time for the Muslim. So for worship on the day of El Aid, don’t forget to fast the day before, the day of Arafat. Except those who are on the pilgrimage, they do not fast on this day. For if you fast this day with sincerity, with ikhlas, with tawba, with repentance, Allah  (azwadial)  erases your sins of the past year and the year to come. Imagine, what mercy! Simply go to Allah  (azwadial)  with the intention of improving. We must not do like some who go to the hajj to “wash”, purify themselves and then continue to disobey. It’s catastrophic to have an intention like that.

I simply tell my brothers and sisters to think about Eid, to think about the past ordeal. On the day of Eid and Arafat, take, I say once again, the train in which Allah  (azwadial)  invites you to board, repent, return to Allah, stop going to the internet to spend your time to have fun. They don’t tell you not to make jokes, they don’t tell you that you can’t laugh, just laughing and making jokes have rules.

Islam has not let you do what you want, Islam has detailed everything for you. Islam shows you how to go to the toilet, Islam shows you how to have sex, Islam shows you how to interact with your children, and so on.

I remind you that on the day of Eid, one sheep must be sacrificed per family. People who are traveling can slaughter a sheep but this is not an obligation. For those who are not traveling, the majority of scholars say that it is sunna muaqada, (strongly recommended) that it is not an obligation. Personally, I am more of the opinion that it is obligatory for every family, for those who can afford it. He must do it after offering the prayer. The sunnah is to divide this sheep into three parts: a part for eating, a part for giving alms and a part for offering.

Another important thing: don’t forget the tahlil (El hamdoulilah) and the takbir (Allahu Akbar) on the day of Eid. From the time of Fajr, you say the takbir, non-stop; in the car or in the street, you say it quietly. And bring out all your children, your wives, your daughters, everyone must be present. Even indisposed women must come to listen to dars, do duas and dhikr. Even if they are indisposed, they must make dhikr with the Muslims present that day.

It is also time to visit loved ones, parents, families, friends. For those who visit parents, you know that parents sometimes do things that are not right. Don’t be harsh this day. If you have time to do dawa or reminder, try to be lenient.

If you see that there are major shortcomings, do not stay. The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam)  said: “He who sees an evil, let him change it, with his hand, his tongue or his heart.” I believe that on Eid, it is impossible to change anything because people are celebrating, having fun. Try giving them a gentle reminder. If you see that they didn’t know, then alhamdulillah. If you see that you have already said it several times and they do not listen to you, go visit them, say to them “Assalam alaykum” and leave, and may Allah accept our works and yours.

By Abou Chayma