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Friday, August 18, 2017

How to purify your heart spiritually in islam Tasawwuf sufism

How to purify your  heart  spiritually in islam Tasawwuf sufism
I have compiled the following as a reminder for myself and for those searching for similar advice.You may share with your friends and relatives. Its sadka e zaariya.







How to purify your  heart  spiritually in islam (Tasawwuf / Sufism)



DEATH CAN COME SUDDENLY.
“A day in which neither wealth nor children shall be of any benefit, except one who comes to God with a sound heart” (Sūrat’l-Shu‘arā’: 88-89).
"Every soul shall have a taste of death: In the end to Us shall you be brought back." (29:57)

and the Almighty says, “No self knows what it will earn tomorrow and no self knows in what land it will die.” (W31:33; H31:34)
The Almighty says, “When their specified time arrives, they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward,” (16:61)
Spiritual purification of the self is the essence of Islamic teachings. Knowledge of this science was traditionally learned by keeping company with good teachers and righteous companions. So taking bayah under a peer and practicing under him for a long long time is a must to purify the heart.Basically he is your spiritual teacher.The way you follow your teachers in school and colleges,the same way you have to follow him..
How to purify your  heart  spiritually in islam (Tasawwuf / Sufism)
NUMBER ONE :    The Obligatory Prayers
This one is so obvious it doesn’t need to be stated. However, the reality is, most of us struggle to keep up with our five prayers on time. Those already doing this should work on offering the voluntary prayers (sunnan rawatib) and supererogatory prayers (dhuda, ishrāq, alāt’l-wuū’ etc).
NUMBER TWO :Have a daily reading of Qur’ān
Whether it is a hizb (i.e. 1/60  of Quran)a few pages or a few lines, pick an amount that you can commit to reading from the Qur’ān everyday. Make it a routine to read that amount after one of the obligatory prayers—after Fajr is usually the best time to do so.
NUMBER THREE: Daily Supplications (tasbeeh) for Morning or Evenings
Having a regular supplication (a designated amount) of tasbeeh (Darud, ashtagfaar etc) is also necessary in one’s daily routine. The Prophet (PBUH) recommended supplications for mornings or evenings. Your spiritual guide will  tell you what to do.. Set aside a time, usually after Fajr or Maghrib, to recite them.
NUMBER FOUR: DHIKR & MURAKABA: Advanced stage. It must be done under your peers/shaikhs personal observation.
The last piece of advice is to make du‘ā’ and dua all the time to Allah in your native mother toungue by a) Praising Allah, b(By praising Prophet (SA),c)By asking Forgiveness from all sins d) by avoiding sins. Practical measures outlined above need to be coupled with constant prayer asking God to grant you a pure heart. In addition, while sins are inevitable, an active effort needs to be made to avoid sins we commit consistently. As mentioned earlier, sins are barriers that limit the opportunity to do good works; avoiding them and constantly seeking forgiveness is therefore vital.
HOW TO DO IT:
1.Recognizing the offence itself and its admission before Allah and the person against whom offense was committed.
2.Making a commitment not to repeat the offense.
3.Asking for forgiveness from Allah and the offended person.
4.Doing whatever needs to be done to rectify the offence within permissible limits.
Allah loves those who constantly repent (Qur’ān  Sūrat’l-Baqarah: 222); our Prophet (  PBUH Say Darud), the best of creation, would seek repentance over 70 times a day; 
Sins are barriers which restrict the opportunity to do good works; so begin your journey with sincere repentance. List all of the main sins you aim to eliminate in the future and ask forgiveness for those sins specifically. A specific repentance with the intention of starting on a spiritual quest will act as a starting line for you. It will put you in the right frame of mind and will allow you to be cognizant of committing these sins again.

Death is inevitable. It is the one thing that we can be certain about in life. We are born to die. Every soul shall have a taste of death no matter who they are. This is confirmed for us many times in the Quran:

"Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of Judgement shall you be paid your full recompense." (Quran 3:185)

"Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good, by way of trial. To Us must you return." (21:35)
and the Almighty says, “O you who believe! Do not let your wealth or children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. Whoever does that is lost. Give from what We have provided for you before death comes to one of you and he says, ‘O Lord, if only you would give me a little more time so that I can give sadaqa and be one of the righteous.’ Allah will not give anyone more time, once their time has come. Allah is aware of everything you do.” (63:9-11)
Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “In the evening, do not anticipate the morning, and in the morning do not anticipate the evening. Take from your health for your illness and from your life for your death.” [al-Bukhari]

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Remember often the destroyer of pleasures,” by which he meant death.Source: Sunan ibn Majah 4258, Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
Always sleep with a clean heart. I know many of us get wronged throughout the day or have gotten wronged in the past. Forgive. Not only forgive, but forgive and forget. Dont even hold a grudge against that person in your heart. Keep your heart completely pure.Forgive brothers and sisters before you sleep each night. this is one of the practices of the greatest people ever to live and this is how we will reach those highest levels of spirituality.

Forgiveness is good for your own well being, its about giving yourself permission to let go of the painful past.Forgiveness is not something we do for that particular toxic person,it is something we do for ourselves so we can move on to a better future.We forgive,not because that toxic person deserves it,but because we deserve peace, for a pure heart.
Read quran ,Sura 24:22 , sura 2:263 , sura3:133-134  , sura7:199, sura 15:85, sura 45:14

Ending this article with a hadith
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated:"Show mercy and you shall be shown mercy.Forgive others and you shall be forgiven by Allah."(Musnad Ahmad)

LOVE HUMANITY IRRESPECTIVE OF RELIGION, LOVE ANIMALS, TREES AND ALL OF GODS CREATIONS. IF YOU CAN NOT LOVE AND ADMIRE GODS CREATION, HOW CAN YOU THINK ABOUT ADMIRING THE GREATNESS OF GOD. 

SOURCE OF THE ARTICLE : https://www.ummah.com/forum/forum/islam/general-islamic-topics/197646-10-steps-to-increasing-our-iman-faith

10 Steps to Increasing our Iman(Faith)

10 Steps to Increasing Iman (Faith) 


The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Faith wears out in the heart of any one of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts” (Mustadrak al-Haakim). 

Our Iman is not always as sound and as strong as we want it to be, as it often fluctuates according to life circumstances and situations. Sometimes our hearts will be illuminating full of imaan and other times our hearts will be devoid of much iman. There are occassions such as a funeral or the month of Ramadan when our hearts get a regular fill of imaan and other occassions like worldly events or work etc where our heart is devoid of much needed iman.

Regardless of the cause, it is crucial for all of us to keep a regular check on our Iman and if we feel it is faltering in any way then we should take measures to restore it. Imaan leaves the body as quickly as water leaves a bottle when it is turned upside down. Therefore we must constantly keep a check on our level of imaan and ensure it is regularly topped up to ensure that our hearts are constantly filled with an adequate level of faith.

Therefore we should be aware of which things decrease our Iman in order to avoid them and those things that increase our Iman in order to embrace them.

What are the signs of a weak imaan?

Signs of weak imaan: 


• Committing sins and not feeling any guilt. 
• Having a hard heart and no desire to read the Quran. 
• Feeling too lazy to do good deeds, e.g. being late for salat 
• Neglecting the Sunnah. 
• Having mood swings, for instance being upset about petty things and bothered and irritated most of the time. 
• Not feeling anything when hearing verses from the Quran, for example when Allah warns us of punishments and His promise of glad tidings. 
• Finding difficulty in remembering Allah and making dhikr. 
• Not feeling bad when things are done against the Shariah. 
• Desiring status and wealth. 
• Being mean and miserly, i.e. not wanting to part with wealth. 
• Ordering others to do good deeds when not practising them ourselves. 
• Feeling pleased when things are not progressing for others. 
• Being concerned with whether something is haram or halal only; and not avoiding makroo (not recommended) things. 
• Making fun of people who do simple good deeds, like cleaning the mosque. 
• Not feeling concerned about the situation of Muslims. 
• Not feeling the responsibility to do something to promote Islam. 
• Being unable to deal with calamities, for instance crying and yelling in funerals.
• Liking to argue just for the sake of arguing without any proof. 
• Becoming engrossed and very involved with dunya, worldly things, i.e. feeling bad only when losing something in terms of material wealth. 
• Becoming engrossed and obsessive about ourselves. 


The following are 10 ways that we can illuminate our hearts with Iman starting from today! 

1. Recognise and Repent 


As humans we all err and commit sins no matter how hard we try to avoid them because we were created to be imperfect and make mistakes. Unfortunately engaging in much sin and evil deeds actually decreases our Iman. Actions like lying, cheating, backbiting, slandering, gossiping and stealing etc, to name only a few, take a toll on the human heart and soul which makes us more susceptible to being lead astray from the Path of Allah. It is therefore incumbant upon us to reflect upon our daily deeds and remove the ones that are contrary to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Almighty Allah says: "Seek forgiveness of your Lord and then turn to Him in repentance." (Qur'an, Hud: 3).

" ... and turn you all together in repentance to Allah O believers, that you may be successful" An-Noor (24:31)

Allah has gifted us with an innate sense of justice and the ability to reason and make sound judgements. Our fitrah (natural disposition) necessitates that we all know when we are committing a sin. And if we don't know, we certainly have a bevy of resources to find out from!

Conditions for the acceptance of repentance 

In order to gain forgiveness then scholars have stated that the following conditions must be met:

They are as follows: 

• First: Giving up of the sin itself.
• Second: Remorse over what has been committed.
• Third: A resolve not to repeat it, and, Fourth: Compensating those who have been wronged or obtaining their forgiveness.

So we must try to make it a habit to be in constant repentance for Allah loves those who repent and he finds any excuse to forgive his slaves as he is most gracious most merciful and we can never begin to comprehend his infinite generosity and mercy.

The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) states: "Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His servant than one of you would be, who suddenly finds his camel laden with supplies after losing it in a barren land" (Bukhari, Muslim)

Allah is most happy when his slave turns to him in meekness and in humility begging for forgiveness and mercy:

"Surely Allah loves those who turn unto him in repentance..." (2:222)

So repent, repent and repent and know that Allah loves those who repent!!!


2. Perform Salah Regularly 


Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an:
The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses -this Qur’an- are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone); Who perform salah and spend out of that We have provided them. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and Forgiveness and a generous provision (Paradise)” (Qur'an, Al-Anfal: 2-4).


Prayer: the most important aspect of faith after the Shahada:

Having faith in the Shahada is the most fundamental aspect of the Islamic faith. The second most fundamental aspect of our faith is the Salaah (prayer). Surely then with this being one of the most important and practised acts of faith, then it must have a very strong connection with our level of iman on a day to day basis.

The prayer: A daily meeting with the creator of the Universe:


The prayer is a sacred act by which a slave meets with his lord 5 times a day. This is meeting is direct without any intermediary. It is us standing in front of our lord talking to him DIRECTLY! We are asking of his help and mercy. We are conversing with the creator of the universe. Which president or leader of this world would ever give us the time of day that our creator does? The lord of universe pays each one of us invidual special attention when we stand in front of him. NOTHING can be as special as that.

Concentrating in prayer:

But in order for us to feel such a special feeling then we have to ensure that we not only pray our 5 daily prayers on time but that we clear our minds of all worldly things and stand in front of him and imagine him watching us and reflect over the words that we are reciting. The Salaah is a coolness for our eyes and it connects us with our creator on a daily basis, therefore having a significant impact on our level of imaan on a daily basis. So if we want to increase our level of imaan then nothing will increase it more than praying the 5 daily Salaah.

Nothing brings us closer to Allah than when we are in prostration:

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: “The closest the slave will draw to his Lord, is when he is performing Sujood (prostrating while praying)”[Saheeh Muslim] 

It is also a means of forgiveness of sins:

Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) narrates that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: The similitude of five prayers is like an overflowing river passing by the gate of one of you in which he washes five times daily. Hasan said: No filthiness can remain on him. (Muslim 4: 1411) 

But for the people who don’t pray:

Informing us about the inhabitants of Hell, Almighty Allah says "(The people in Hell will be asked "What has caused you to enter Hell? They will say:"We were not of those who used to offer their Salât (prayers). Nor did we feed the poor. And we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allaah hated) with vain-talkers. And we used to belie thc Day of Recompense. Until there came to us that which is certain (i.e., death). So no Intercession of intercessors will benefit them. (Qur'an,Al-Muddaththir: 42-48) 

There is no guarantee for the person who does pray:

Abu Qatada, Bin Rab’i (Ra) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) , said, "Allâh the Exalted said: ‘I made five times (daily) prayers obligatory on your people. And I took a guarantee that if anyone observes them regularly at their times, I shall admit him to Paradise. If anyone does not offer them regularly, there is no such guarantee of Mine for him." (Abu Dawood 430)

The prayer distinguishes between a believer and a disbeliever:

The Prophet (Sallallahu Aiahi Wasallam) said "The covenant between us and them is prayer, so if anyone abandons it he has become a disbeliever."(Agreed upon by Ahmad, Tirmidhee & Nasaa'ee)

In an other Hadith, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said "What lies between a man and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer." (Muslim, Abu Dawood & Nasaa'ee)

Therefore there is no choice in the fact that we must pray because it is an obligation upon us and what more beautiful act than that which enables us to meet with our Lord, converse with him, ask of his help and mercy 5 times daily.

So let us establish the prayer and NEVER abandon it!


3. Reciting the Qur'an


The psysiological effects of the Qur'an:
Medical studies have shown that simply listening to the recitation of the Holy Qur’an has a positive physiological effect on our bodies. Research has also proven that the Qur’an has healing qualities on the body, mind and spirit. 

Reflecting upon the verses of the Qur'an:

So the best way to increase our imaan is to recite the Qur'an and reflect, ponder and contemplate over its meanings and implement whatever Allah has ordained in the Qur'an. 

"Those to whom We gave the book (the Qur’an) recite it as it should be recited, they are the ones that believe therein. And who disbelieves in it (the Qur’an), those are the losers." (Qur'an, Baqarah: 121)

Umar (Ra), said about reciting the Qur’an the way it should be recited: "They (the ones who really recite Qur’an) are the ones who, when they pass by a verse of mercy, asked it from Allah, and when they pass by a verse of punishment, they seek refuge from it, like the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to do.

Almighty Allah stresses that the purpose of revealing the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is to help mankind to reflect upon his verses and to understand them, so the verses will be a reminder for them. 

Allah says: "(This is) a book (the Qur’an) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses, and that men of understanding may remember." (Qur'an, Saad:29)

Allah scorns those who do not reflect upon Qur’an and do not understand its meanings. Allah says: "Do they not then think deeply in the Qur’an, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding)?" (Qur'an, Muhammad:24)

Reflecting over the verses of the Qur'an increases the imaan of the believers:

Therefore every verse in the Qur’an should increase the iman of the believers, while at the same time it increases the ungratefulness of the non-believers. 

Allah says: "And whenever there comes down a surah, some of them say: "Which of you has his iman increased by it ? As for those who believe, it has increased their iman, and they rejoice. But as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it will add suspicion and doubt to their suspicion, disbelief and doubt, and they die while they are disbelievers." (Qur'an;Tawbah: 124,25) 

So what better way to increase our own Iman than to recite the verses of the Qur'an and to reflect, ponder and contemplate over its meanings by reading its translation, comentar and tafseer in order to delve into its deeper meanings.

Although reciting the Qur'an ourselves is far better and far more reward, we can also listen to the recitation of the Qur'an on an audio device! Listening to the melodious rhythm of the Qur’an and while doing so try to reflect upon its meanings by reading the translation or tafseer of the verses alongside it. 

Acting upon the verses of the Qur'an:

It is also important to act upon what we have read as we will be accountable on the day of judgement for not acting upon the verses of the Qur'an. 

The Sahaba used to reflect upon the verses of the Qur'an and apply them in their lives, verses of the Qur'an were instructions for them to be acted upon and not merely to be read or memorised. 

Therefore, when the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) mentioned the virtues of reciting the Qur'aan, he encouraged the Sahabah to read the Qur'an as much as they could, and act according to its instructions. 

So in order to gain the rewards of reciting Qur'an and to benefit from reflecting over the meanings of its verses, it is also important that we act in accordance to its commandments. Allah says: "Verily, there is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful." (Qur'an; Qaf (50): 37)


4. Engaging in Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) 



When the signs of the Gracious Allah are recited unto them, they fall down, prostrating themselves before Allah weeping.(19:59)

Increasing iman by remembering Allah:

Iman comes from the heart. Therefore the best way of increasing our iman is to give the heart what it needs at all times. So what does our heart need? What does it crave for? What is the food of the heart? It is the remembrance of Allah:

"…Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." (13:28)

Surely then if we want our iman to be high at all times then we must try our best to remember Allah at all times. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to make remembrance of Allah at all times and also encouraged us to do the same. When a man complained, "The laws of Islam are too heavy for me, so tell me something that I can easily follow," the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) told him, "Let your tongue be always busy with the remembrance of Allah." (Ahmad).


Hearts of those who remember Allah :

Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (Ra) reported: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "The similitude of one who remembers his Lord and one who does not remember Him, is like that of the living and the dead.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Remembering Allah through acts of dhikr brings much peace and tranquility to the heart. It also gives us a sense of taqwa (fear of allah), a consciousness that makes us realise that Allah Almighty is ever near and watching us at all times and that we should always strive to please Him and refrain from anything which angers and displeases him.

Remembering Allah night & day:

O ye who believe, remember Allah much. And glorify Him morning and evening (33:42-43)

The more we remember Allah the more our hearts and souls will be kept well fed and illuminated with iman, peace and tranquility.

Therefore the following are 10 short Dhikr we can recite everyday. One can recite each 100 times which makes a total of 1000 Dhikr a day minimum as a target:


1) Subhaanallah
2) Alhamdulillah
3) Allahu Akbar 
4) Laa ilaaha illallah, 
5) La hawla Wala Quwwata Illah Billah-Hil Aliyyil Adheem, 

6) Asthaghfirullah-halladhee Laa ilaaha illa-huwal Hayyul Qayyuumu Wa athoobu Ilay, Short version: Asthaghfirullah

7) SUB-HAAN'ALLAAHi WA BI-HAM'DIHI SUB-HAAN'ALLAH-IL ADHEEM 
Short version: SUB-HAAN'ALLAAHi WA BI-HAM'DIHI

8) Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm

9) Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr

Short version: Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku 
wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer

10) Subhan Allahi wa bi hamdihi `adada khalqihi wa rida nafsihi wa zinata `arshihi wa midada kalimatihi

Do so much Dhikr that people think you are insane:

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Engage in the Dhikr of Allah in such abundance that people comment that ‘you are insane’.” (Ahmed)

Utter regret for each second wasted without remembering Allah:

Mu`adh Ibn Jabal (RA) said that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "The People of Paradise will not regret anything except one thing alone: the hour that passed them by in which they made no remembrance of Allah." (Bayhaqi in Shu`ab al-iman (1:392 #512-513))


Dhikr done in places where others don't remember Allah:

Remember:in a place where people are oblivious to dhikir, the remembrance of Allah is like being steadfast in jihad, when others are running away.(Targhib, p. 193, vol. 3 ref. Bazar and Tibrani)


Dhikr can be done anywhere and anytime: 
"Celebrate God's praises, standing, sitting down, or lying on your sides." (Qur'an;Nisaa:103).

During night or day, on firm ground or on in the sea, on a trip or at home, in wealth or poverty, in sickness or in health, in secret or announced, in all situations.


SO the more we remember Allah the more our Iman will increase each and everyday and the more our hearts and souls will be illuminated in peace and tranquility!


5. Voluntary Fasting

The benefits of fasting are both physical and spiritual:

There are many benefits to fasting both physical and spiritual. It is an act of obedience, love and submission to Allah. This submission and commitment is based upon the love of Allah and the earnest effort to gain His pleasure and to avoid His displeasure. Fasting trains the believer in taqwa (being mindful of Allah). If a person, willingly, refrains from lawful food and conjugal relations during the fasting period, he/she is likely to be in better position to refrain from the unlawful.

Fasting increases sincerety:

Fasting also trains the believer in sincerity (Ikhlaas). Unlike other acts of worship it is entirely based on self-restraint. Others can never know for sure whether the person is fasting or pretending to do so pretending to do so [while eating or drinking in secret].

Fasting is striving in the path of Allah and teaches self-discipline and enhances one’s ability to master his/her appetites and desires rather than being enslaved by them.

Fasting not limited to Ramadan:

Fasting is not limited to Ramadan as one may fast voluntarily throughout the year to gain the above benefits to the heart and soul. Voluntary fasting can be done all year around apart from the few times when it is prohibited or disliked.

Fasting Mondays and Thursdays: 


`Aa'ishah said: The Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa salam, used to fast Mondays and Thursdays". [An-Nasaa’i; Sahih]


Abu Hurairah reported that the most the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa salam, would fast would be Monday and Thursday. He was asked about that and he said: "The deeds of people are presented to Allah on every Monday and Thursday. Allah forgives every Muslim except for those who are deserting each other. He says: "leave them for later." [Ahmad; Hasan] 


Intention for voluntary fasting


As opposed to Ramadan, the intention does not have to be made before dawn. The person can intend fasting [and start fasting] after dawn any time [even after noon] given that he did not eat anything.

`Aa'ishah said : The Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, came to us one day and said, "Do you have any [food]?" We said "No". He said: Therefore, I am Fasting". [Muslim and Abu Dawood]


Fasting three days of every month(White days):


Abu Tharr Al-Ghefari said: "The Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said "O Abu Tharr! if you fast three days of every month, then fast the 13th, the 14th and the 15th [these are call the al-ayaam al-beedh, the white days]". [Ahmad, an-Nasaa'i and at-Tirmithi; Sahih]


“Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: ‘O My Rabb! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him.’ And the Qur’an will say: ‘I prevented him from sleep during the night, so accept my intercession for him.’ He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘And they will (be allowed to) intercede.’” [Ahmad, at-Tabarani, Al-Hakim, Sahih]
Fasting to increase Iman:

Therefore we should try and fast every Mondays and Thursdays, if not then at least 3 days each month which fall on the 13th, 14th and 15th of each Islamic month. This will have a very positive effect on our levels of imaan as we fast purely for the pleasure of Allah and in turn cleanse and illuminate our hearts and souls with iman, peace and tranquility.


6. Increase in Good deeds


It is a simple equation: Our Iman (faith) is increased by doing good deeds and actions and is decreased by committing bad deeds. So in order for us to increase our Iman on a daily basis we must:

Increase in doing good deeds and actions and refrain from committing sins particularly major sins - as major sins have a negative effect on one's level of Iman.


The best deeds are those done consistantly:

One good deed leads to another good deed. Allah will make the way easy for someone who gives charity and also make it easy for them to do good deeds. Good deeds should be done continuously, not in spurts. As the best action is that which is done consistantly even if it is small:

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The best deeds are those we are consistent with, even if they are small deeds.” (Bukhari)

Abu Dhar (Ra) narrates that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Do not disdain any good deed, even your meeting with your Muslim brother with a cheerful face.” (Muslim)

Doing good deeds increases imaan:

By increasing in good deeds and obedience, one nears himself to Allah, increases his iman, and purifies himself. He is less likely to fall into his base desires and worldly pleasures, keeping himself safe from the evils of society by strengthening his soul and weakening his nafs.

A person with low iman should begin by performing the obligatory duties imposed on him, such as performing the five daily prayers at their fixed times and fasting. He should stop committing major sins and eventually begin performing more voluntary and permissible acts of worship and obedience and refrain from minor sins and disliked acts to the best of his ability. When a person refrains from as many sins as possible and does as many good deeds as he can, most importantly his obligatory duties, he weakens Satan against him, which gives him a bigger chance of success. Allah says:

O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not make your deeds vain. (Surah Muhammad 47:33) 

One should make sure that everything he does that which will only benefit him both in this world and in the hereafter. There is no point in doing something that will cause hurt to ones soul and add more weight to ones evil deeds. It is very important and beneficial to follow the Sunnah. The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) was the best of mankind and Allah chose him to show us our ways. If we follow him, we are sure to succeed in both worlds, Insha Allah. But if we reject his way and follow our own lusts or the way of the disbelievers then we will only destroy ourselves. To be sure that ones deeds will increase the iman, one should do only that which Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) have taught and in that way, one can be safe from bidah and misguidance.

Then, as for those who have faith and do good deeds, He will pay them fully their rewards and give them more out of His grace and as for those who disdain and are proud, He will punish them with a painful doom. And they shall not find for themselves besides Allah any guardian or helper. (Surat an-Nisaa 4:173) 

In the following verse, Allah emphasises the importance of iman and doing good deeds along with ones belief: 

There shall be no sin unto those who believe and do good deeds for what they may have eaten (in the past); so be mindful of your duty (to Allah) and do good deeds and again be mindful of your duty and believe and once again, be mindful of your duty and do good deeds. Allah loves the good!(Surat al-Maidah 5:93) 

The life of the world is only a test for the creation and one day this test will end. It is the responsibility of each human and jinn to prepare themself for the final scoring of the test by being mindful of one's duty towards Allah by following the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah and keeping ones iman high. A weak iman will lead one to the Hellfire, while a strong one will lead one to the Gardens of Delight. The reason is because it is the iman that determines the actions of a person. A person with weak or even no iman will commit sin and cause Allah to be displeased, causing him to be thrown into the Hellfire to be punished. But a person with a strong faith will refrain from sins and perform good deeds, which will be the cause of Allahs pleasure and his entrance into Paradise.

May Allah enable us to increase in good deeds and refrain from minor and major sins so that our iman can be high at all times. Ameen


7. Remembering death and the Hereafter


"Every soul shall taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will return." (Qur'an; 21:35)

Nothing an escape death:

From the above verse it is clear that we cannot escape from death. Even if we were in the far reaches of the Earth hidden away in a remote valley or deep within a cave, death shall find us. It matters not if we are baby's, toddlers, teenagers, adults, elderly, ill, healthy, leaders, kings, Death does not distinguish us from our position or status in this world. It will never arrive late nor will it be delayed in anyway but it will take us at the exact time it was appointed for. The problem for us is that we do not know when our time is up and it maybe that death arrives for any of us at any second.

The realisation that death can take us at any second:

The realisation that death can take us at any second should shock us into immediate action. It should make us realise that we have no time to waste as each second that goes by could be our very last. Therefore we must prepare for our deaths NOW and we should realise that we are on borrowed time. This life is merely a journey until we reach our final destination in the hereafter.

Abu Hurairah (Ra) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said,“Hasten to do good deeds before six things happen: the rising of the sun from the west, the smoke, the Dajjal, the beast and (the death) of one you or the general turmoil.” (Muslim 7039)

Therefore on a daily basis we should contemplate, ponder and reflect upon this realisation and it will have a significant impact upon our iman, as it will make us realise the temporary nature of this life and the fact that the real life is that of the hereafter which is for eternity. It will also make us realise that each second that goes by can NEVER be regained.

Daqaq (Ra) says, 'Who ever remembers death frequently, will benefit in three ways: he will hasten to repent, he will become content, and he will be active in worship. Whoever forgets death will be punished in three ways: he will delay repentance, he will no longer be content with what is sufficient, and he will be lazy in worship.'

Remembering death and the Hereafter to cure a weak iman:

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "You should remember the reality that brings an end to all worldly joys and pleasures, namely, death.”(Tabarani)
Remembering the Hereafter is also a cure for weak iman. When one is one hundred percent certain of the Last Day, Paradise, and Hellfire and feels fear of the mere thought of standing before the All-Powerful Creator and be questioned and judged for each of his thoughts, sayings and deeds, he is bound to think twice before committing an act of disobedience. One should remember the Day of Judgement often, which is repeatedly mentioned in the Quran to remind mankind that he will surely be returned to his Lord.

So we must remember, ponder, reflect and contemplate frequantly the reality of the Hereafter and the breaker of worldly pleasures i.e. death. One way of doing this is to visit the graves, for it is a means of remembrance of death and the hereafter, and it guides a slave to the Straight Path.

We must fear the miserable end to our lives; the remembrance of death is the destroyer of pleasures.

Prepare for death now:

Therefore it is only logical that a wise person would begin by making preperations for death now, for if we are unprepared and taken by death then what good will we have to show when we face Allah? What investments have we made for the hereafter? Have we fulfilled our obligations unto Allah? Have we done the best we can to please Allah and refrain from that which he forbade from us?

If the answer is no then we must act right now and not delay another second!


8. Gaining knowledge


Knowledge is one of the most essential key factors in increasing ones iman. It leads to certainty in the heart, assurance in the mind, and peace felt by the soul. Almighty Allah has said: 

It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. (Qur'an; al-Malaaikah; 35:28)

To seek knowledge is a sacred duty:
To seek knowledge is a sacred duty, it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female. The first word revealed of the Qur’an was "Iqra" - READ! Seek knowledge! Educate yourselves! Be educated.


Knowing Allah through his beautiful names:

An increase in knowledge leads to acknowledging Allah in every moment of one's life through taqwa (fearful awareness of Allah), which leads to a firm iman. The type of knowledge we are discussing is knowing that Allah is One and has no partners, wives, children, or equals. It is knowing Allah through His beautiful Names and Attributes; that Allah is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that it contains. He is the Preserver, as well as the One Who destroys. He gives life and takes it whenever He wills. His knowledge encompasses all things and nothing can ever be hidden from Him.

And with Him are the keys of the invisible. None but He knows them. And He knows what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falls but He knows it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, nor anything wet or dry but (it is noted) in a Clear Record. (Qur'an; al-Anaam 6:59)

He hears the cries of His servants all at once and is not confused by the countless different number of voices and languages and He is Ever Responding. He is the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Giver of Bounties. He forgives whomever He wills and punishes whomever He wills. He is the Just, the Merciful, and does no wrong to His creation. He sees all things. Not a black ant on a black stone on a black moonless night is hidden from His sight. To Him belongs all praise and glory! He is the Most Great, the Incomparable!

A person of knowledge is not equal to a person without knowledge:

A person who has knowledge of Allah is not like a person who simply states "La ilaha illallah" and knows nothing else about its meaning and its impact in the life of a true believer.

Likewise, a person who has knowledge about Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) and his life, noble characteristics, truthful teachings, and exemplary actions and has faith in what he informed his Ummah concerning the torment and bliss in the grave, the Last Day, the Reckoning, the questioning of ones deeds, the scale, the bridge, the rewards of Paradise, and the torments of Hellfire is unlike the person who has no such knowledge or belief. A person with this knowledge will have a purpose and goal in life, which is to obey Allah to the best of his ability and remind himself of the rewards and punishments he may earn depending upon his iman and his deeds.

There is no doubt that knowledge plays a big role in increasing the iman of a weak heart and Allah says it beautifully:

Are those who know, equal to those who know not? (Qur'an; az-Zumar; 39:9) 

The second key factor, which affects the iman are ones deeds. They can either decrease the iman and weaken the heart and soul or increase it, as well as strengthening the heart and soul. Once a person gains knowledge about something, he should accept it and put it into practice. If a person accepts the forbidden as forbidden and the permissible as permissible, but refuses to act upon it, thereby disobeying Allah and committing sin, not to mention hurting his own soul, he has suppressed his iman. The basis of iman is to accept and practice.

So learn, learn and act upon what you learn!


9. Making Dua (Supplication)

Verily every Dua is answered by Allah:

Dua is defined as an invocation, supplication or prayer that one make's directly to Allah. But many of us are negligent when it comes to making Dua. We find reasons not to make Dua when we really should be turning to Allah. When we do make Dua then we lose hope thinking why our Dua's are not being answered.

As Muslims there is something very wrong when we believe our Duas won't be answered. We do not turn to Allah in our times of need and instead put our trust, dependence and hopes on worldly things that we think will help us. But what we should do as believers is to ask of Allah with meekness and humility and put all of our hopes, trust , faith and reliance upon him. We should never think that our Dua's are not being answered as it maybe that Allah will answer it in ways we never imagined by opening other doors or giving us better in return whether in this world, the Hereafter or both.

Aisha (Ra) said, "No believer makes Dua and it is wasted. Either it is granted here in this world or deposited for him in the Hereafter as long as he does not get frustrated."
So we must have firm conviction when making dua that it will be accepted somehow or another:

No Muslim ever makes Dua with it but Allah answers it." [Tirmidhi] 

And let not there be anyone who says:

"... my Lord won't answer my prayer, because of this and that.. or because of so and so..". No! Indeed Allah is the Most Generous King. Is there anyone who met a king, and praised and glorified him, and then asked, yet the request was not granted? So what about Allah, the King of the Heavens and the Earth - who has total control over your life, your wealth and your future. Why would He not grant you your request? 
Indeed, our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has said:

"Verily your Lord is the One modest and Generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in supplication, He is diffident (in some wordings, shy or hesitant) from returning them empty handed." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]

Strengthening our iman through Dua:

Through Dua, we strengthen our Imaan and our relationship with Allah, as well as heighten our awareness of cause and effect that can help inspire and motivate us to be closer to our deen (way of life) and closer to our creator, in our lives.

We find many reassurances throughout the Quran for those who make Dua. Allah the Exalted, has said: "And your Lord says: Pray unto me: and I will hear your prayer" (Quran 40:60), "Call upon your Lord Humbly and in secret" (Quran 7:55),
"When My servants question thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me" (Quran 2:186), "Is not He (best) who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and who relieves its suffering." (Quran 27:62)
In fact, it is disliked by Allah never to make Dua:

"Whosoever does not supplicate to Allah, He will be angry with Him."[Saheeh Jaami`as-Sagheer #2414]

In order to warn those who are arogant, or careless in making duaa, the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "The most incapable person is the one who does not make du`a, and the most miserly person is the one who does not give salaam." [Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1055]

Make Dua in every condition:

We can and should make Dua in every condition, i.e. in hardship and in prosperity. If we just make Dua to Allah in hardship and trials then why should he answer us when we don't make Dua to him when we are happy and prosperous? Therefore let us turn to him in Dua in every condition.

There are also some special times to make Dua where it is more likely to be accepted:

1. When one is oppressed 
2. Between the time of Athan and Iqama 
3. At the time of the call for prayer 
4. At the time of fighting when warriors are engaged with each other 
5. When it is raining 
6. When one is sick
7. The last third of the night 
8. Ramadan (especially during the night of Lailatul Qadr) 
9. After the Fard part of prayer 
10. When traveling 
11. When breaking fast 
12. In Sujood (prostration) 
13. Fridays, some say on Friday after Asr prayer 
14. While drinking the water from the well of Zamzam 
15. At the start of prayer (Dua of Istiftah) 
16. When one begins the prayer, i.e. with "all praise be to 
Allah, the Pure and the Blessed one" 
17. While one recites al-Fatiha (which is a Dua) 
18. When Ameen is said in the prayer (also relating to Fatiha) 
19. At the time of raising the head after the Rukoo 
20. In the last part of the prayer after conveying blessings unto the Prophet (SAW) 
21. Before finishing the prayer (before Tasleem (saying the Salaam to the angels)) 
22. At the end of Wudu 
23. On the day of Arafah 
24. On waking up from sleep 
25. At times of adversity 
26. Prayer after the death of a person 
27. Dua when someone's heart is filled with sincerity and when it is focused on Allah 
28. Dua of the parent against or for his children 
29. When the sun moves from its meridian but before the Dhuhr prayer 
30. The Dua of a Muslim for his brother without the latter's knowledge
31. At the time the army advances to fight in the way of Allah.

Dua can be beautified and perfected by certain actions:

1. Have Wudu, face Qibla, be neat and clean 
2. Raise both hands up to the shoulder with palms open facing up
3. Use the words of Allah and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)-i.e. Duas found in Quran and Hadith 
4. Ask by Asma alHusna- Allah's Beautiful Names 
5. Ask Allah by your good deeds 
6. Be insistent-repeat (i.e. 3x's) 
7. Glorify Allah and recite Durud for the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) at both the beginning and end. 
8. Show humility, entreaty, desire and fear while making Dua 
9. Repent and try to make amends where one has wronged 
10. Confess mistakes, shortcomings, and sins 
11. Keep voice between a whisper and speaking aloud 
12. Show the need for Allah's help and implore Him for release from weakness, hardship and tribulation. 
13. Seize the opportunity of time, situation and circumstance in which prayers are answered 
14. Avoid rhymed prose to keep concentration 
15. Crying when making Dua 
16. The Dua of Dhun-Nun (Prophet Yunus (As)) by which he invoked Allah from within the belly of the whale was: "La ilaaha illa Anta, Subhaanaka innee kuntu min aDH-DHaalimeen."

17. End with "Alhamdulillah rabbil alameen"

So let us make sincre Dua in every condition and never think that it will not be accepted. Let us also make build a close relationship with Allah through Dua by which we ask of him, crying and begging of him in meekness, humility, humbling ourselves before him, especially in the latter portions of the night after Tahajjud time when most are asleep, as well as making Dua every chance we can get in order that we can increase our Imaan on a daily basis by getting closer to Allah.


10. Putting our trust in Allah


They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and when the revelations of Allah are recited unto them they increase their faith, and who trust in their Lord. (Qur'an; Al-Anfaal; 8:2) 

Increasing iman through trusting Allah:

One of the most important things we should be aware of when trying to increase our iman is the vastness of Allahs mercy, compassion, and love. Therefore we should put our hope's and trust in Him and completely submit our will upon him. 

If Allah helps you, none can overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? In Allah, then, Let believers put their trust. 3:160

We should have patience and accept Allah's Decree and accept that it is for the best and is meant to happen because he is the knower of all things and the Almighty and we should always realise that no matter what trials or hardships we face in this World, one day we will be called to account for our deeds which will hopefully be sent forth on theday of reckoning with much goodness and patience.

Almighty Allah says: "Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector': And on Allah let the Believers put their trust." (Qur'an; At-Tauba: 51) 

"And put thy trust on the exalted in Might, The Merciful." (Qur'an; Ash-Shu'araa: 217) 

"...Then, when thou hast taken a decision, put thy trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)." (Qur'an; Al-Imran: 159)

Whatever is meant for us will reach us:

Therefore whatever happens will happen by the decree of Allah and we cannot change that no matter what we do. So the best we can do is to accept it and to be patient and know that Allah is the all knowing and our creator so surely he knows what is best for us. It does not matter what we do, the result will be that we will receive what Allah has ordained for us. We can not add to it or subtract from it. What we do is either to benefit ourselves with the blessings of patience and obedience or harm ourselves with the consequances of our impatience and disobedience. Whatever is meant for us will reach us even if the whole world was to try and stop us from getting it, and what is not meant for us will not reach us even if the whole world was to help us to try and get it. So surely we should put our full trust in Allah.

Allah provides for all of his creations:

Each morning the birds go out to seek the provision Allah has given provided for them, and every night they comes home with what was meant for them. For Allah provides for ALL of his creation. Allah has also promised us our provision:

Umar Ibin Al Khattab (Ra) narrated that he heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) say, "If you were to trust in Allah genuinely, He would give you provision as He does for the birds which go out hungry in the morning and come back full in the evening. (Tirmidhi & Ibin Majah). 

We listen, obey and trust in Allah:

Trusting in Allah also means that when we hear or read of the commandments of Allah in the Qur'an or Sunnah that we obey it without question. We also recognise that we are limited, weak and vulnerable but Allah has no limits and he is all powerful. He knows what we do not know and knows us better than we know ourselves. We do not try to explain away the commands of Allah by saying that it is for another time or another people. We do not say that what Allah has commanded for us is oppressive. We accept and obey. This is faith and trust in that we realise that because he created us then surely he knows what is best for us in whatever he has ordained upon us.

Therefore the reward for putting our FULL trust in Allah can only be - Paradise. So we must stop resorting to our limited vision, knowledge and insight when it comes to certain matters and realise that Allah is the ONLY one who knows everything regarding every single aspect of our lives. Not a leaf falls without him knowing about it. Not a particle of dust that he does not know about. Not a single atom, proton or electron that he is not aware of. Therefore he knows best in ALL and EVERY matter while we know not, even though we may think we know.

Therefore let us have full trust in Allah, because when we put our trust in a human then they may let us down simply bcause they are human. But Allah will NEVER let us down so we can rest assured when we put our full trust in him!

I pray to You, O Allah, to make us trust you and only you. May you make us of the Trusting and keep us from trusting or worshipping our minds before you. Ameen.
Last edited by hamza8130-11-14, 10:42 PM.

10 steps to increase our imaan(faith)
http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=192926
Forty Good Deeds to do Everyday!
http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230798












Sunday, June 11, 2017

How to pay zakat, Sadaqa Al-Fitr, Fidya and Kafarah


How to pay zakat, Sadaqa Al-Fitr, Fidya and Kafarah   

Zakat
The concept of Zakat is to assist the poor and those who are suffering in order to help them end their suffering and get back on their feet.
Recipients of Zakat must be sufficiently poor to receive it. They don’t have personal assets that either meet or exceed the nisab, they are eligible to receive Zakat.
 To put it in simple terms, people who are poor and suffering are eligible to receive Zakat money. They can be any of the following: 
  • The Poor & The Needy – these people may have some wealth and funds but it is not enough to make up for the nisaab.
  • The Destitute – People who have no wealth or funds. They are living their life on the very basics necessities of life.
  • Zakat Collectors – People who collect Zakat as well as distribute it.
  • People in Debt – People who are in debt but cannot pay it back are eligible for Zakat. 

FIRST PRIORITY
 POOR RELATIVES
SECOND PRIORITY
POOR NEIGHBOURS
THIRD PRIORITY
POOR PEOPLE IN YOUR LOCALITY. It is easy to donate to zakat fund of your local area masjid.

If each locality takes care of itself, its sufficient for development of the society.

Zakat is 2.5% of one year’s total cumulative wealth. This amount is then distributed to the poor. It can be easily understood from the following table.

Any Muslim who possesses the required nisaab (the minimum amount of wealth that one must have before zakat is payable) for one whole year is bound to pay Zakat on that wealth. The simple concept of zakat is that It is customarily 2.5% (or 1/40th) of a Muslim's total savings and wealth above a minimum amount known as nisab is payable  as zakat. No Zakāt is due on wealth until one year passes. .
Nisab is the exemption limit for the payment of Zakat. If a Muslim’s net yearly savings falls below this amount, he or she is exempt from paying Zakat. Only those people whose net capital exceeds the nisab values are obliged to give zakat. The nisab amount is calculated based on the current value of 3 ounces of pure Gold.If you have more than 7 and half  tolas of Gold or 52 and half tolas of Silver, zakat is payable. 
Items That Fall Under the Scope of Zakat
Keep in mind that in addition to cash at home or bank account, Zakat is also owed on gold, silver, investments, rent income, business merchandise and profits, shares, and bonds, Loans given or funds received. Any of these must be taken into account when determining the Zakat amount. Cattle and crops that are in excess of one’s need.

Enter all assets that have been in your possession over a lunar year:
Sr No
Item
Amount (Rs.)
1
Gold

2
Silver

3
In hand and in bank accounts

4
Deposited for some future purpose, e.g. Hajj

5
Given out in loans

6
Business investments, shares, saving certificates, pensions funded by money in ones possession

7
Value of Stock of trade

8
DEDUCT ALL LIABILITIES(Borrowed money, goods bought on credit, Wages due to employees, Taxes, rent, utility bills due immediately)
(-)

Total assets


Zakat payable= 2.5% of total asset



Online ZAKAT CALCULATOR  http://muttaqun.com/zakatcalc.xls




*************************************************
Manju ka,

Regarding zakat, what I know are

1. Eligibility for zakat: If you have more than 7 and half  tolas of Gold or 52 and half tolas of Silver. 
2.Items on which zakat is to be given: Please go through the zakat calculator (Attached),you will understand yourself..It is more like wealth tax. It is on the amount lying with you for one year.A man may earn Rs. 1 lakh a month but spends the entire amount of his salary, is not liable to play Zakat, even if he had earned Rs. 12 Lakhs a year.
3.Financial year: Take any date in the month of ramadan  Ramadan is gud for remembering the date.
4.What about the fluctuating value of gold and the amount of zakat to be paid : Always take a higher value.Its always better to pay more than pay less zakat.

Please share your knowledge.
regards
saleem
**************************************************************************saleem,
Zakat is not income tax. It is more like wealth tax. It is on
the amount lying with you for one year.
The calculation of the financial year is extremely important. It should
be calculated from the day you have become Sahibe Nisaab. Note down the
Lunar date (Arabic calender) and also the amount you have with you. Say
you have Rs. 2 lakh (the day you have crossed the value of 7 and half
tolas of Gold or 52 and half tolas of Silver). Then, exactly on the
same date next year calculate how much money you have. Say, it is Rs. 5
Lakh. Then your Zakat will be due on Rs. 2 Lakh. (The rest of the 
amount, that is Rs. three lakh, have not completed one year
.) Again
next year, on the same date suppose you have Rs. 10 lakhs with you.
Then Zakat will be payable on Rs. 5 Lakh which completed a year.
Although it appears to be simple I was initially confused about one
thing. That is, what about the amount that completes a year in the
middle of YOUR FINANCIAL YEAR. I thought that Zakat will be payable on
that too. No one could give me satisfactory answer to that. But reading
books I could make out that the identification of the FINANCIAL YEAR is
important. Accordingly I have decided on the formula above. Of course
there are many other fine points (masails) to be taken note of. But
broadly that is what I understand.

Since I could not remember when I became a Sahib e Nisaab, I have
taken the 15th Ramzan as the date to calculate my Financial Year. This
may not be entirely correct, but at least it gives me a convenient
reference point. I am no scholar on the subject. I am only stating what
I understand. There may be points of disagreement.
Assalaamualaikum,



*****************************************************************
 Saleem,

I have added one very important correction. Please rectify the mistake
I have made. It is regarding the zakatable amount.

The completion of one year is necessary only regards to your being
considered a Sahib e nisaab or not. Otherwise you are liable to pay
Zakat on the amount lying with you on the completion of the relevant
financial year.

That means if you get Rs. 10,00,000/- only a month before the due date
of calculation, it is also zakatable. I have corrected my position
after doing some reading and confirmed it from my spiritual teacher.

I sincerely apologise for the confusion.

Khuda hafiz,

Assalaamualaikum,

********************************************
Its time to think about Zakat , May people does not know even his Zakat
is due.

The tool Zakat Calulator will help them who knows computer.

Common muslim does not know how to calculate Zakat.

Even people say '....as I do not have 9.5 tola GOLD , I am not liable.
"ý and feel happy.

For salaried person , every month 2.5% of his salary should be
accumulated separately ( and should not be touched in any condition )
and give to people as mentioned in Quran . This is very simple. and
straight .


I think ZDS ( Zakat deduction at source ) is better.

If you pay your zakat dues to the poor and needy that you know (and especially if they are from among your poor relatives), then that is better than giving it to someone whom you do not know. As your poor relatives have a bigger right on you than the others.
Zakat can be paid out to any of the following eight deservants as ordained by Allah in the Glorious Quran:

Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60: Zakat Collections are for the needy, and the indigent, and for those who are employed to collect them, and for those whose hearts are to be won over, and for the ransoming of slaves, and for helping the debtors, and the way of Allah, and for the hospitality of the way-farers.

When to Pay Zakat:


While Zakat can be paid anytime during the Islamic lunar year, many people prefer to pay it during ramazan.

Fitr 

Fitr or Fitrana, is compulsory charity paid by Muslims at the end of the fasting month. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of his/her needs (approx. 2kg) must pay Fitr for him/herself and on behalf of dependants.
The accepted amount for Zakat ul Fitr is Indian Rs50/= per person of the family on june,2017.. Though this is payable until the morning before Eid Prayer, we urge donors to give theirs in advance. By doing so, you’ll be allowing the families who rely on your Fitr to make their preparations for Eid.

The Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) ordered that a fasting person give out Zakaat al-Fitr at the end of Ramadhan – one saa’ of staple food on behalf of yourself and each person you are responsible for. [1]

What is a Saa’?

A Prophetic saa’ ( صاع ) is not a weight measurement.  It was and still is a measurement of volume, similar to the size of a large salad bowl.  It is made up of four mudds, and a mudd ( مد ) is a smaller container, close to the size of a small salad bowl.
To be precise, a Prophetic mudd in modern volume measurements is 0.75L (or 750mL), which means that a saa’ is three litres.
 The most common understanding is that one sa'a is equivalent to 2.5 kilograms (5 pounds) of wheat. Each individual Muslim is to give away this amount -- man or woman, adult or child, sick or healthy, old or young. The senior member of the household is responsible for paying the amount on behalf of the family.
So a family of four individuals (2 adults + 2 children of any age) should purchase and give away 10 kilograms  of wheat.

“The Scholars have Specified the Saa’ as 2.172 Kilograms” [?]

In a translation of a fatwaa from the Permanent Committee of Scholars in Saudi Arabia, headed by Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have Mercy on him), there seems to be a specification of 2.172 kilograms as one saa’.
It is preferable (and some scholars say mandatory) to give the zakat-ul-fitr as food to the poor and needy of the society. But if one is not able to personally give out the food as zakat-ul-fitr, it is permissible to give the equivalent amount to an organization who collects the zakat-ul-fitr; and they in turn will purchase the food on your behalf and give it to the poor and needy.

When to Pay Sadaqa Al-Fitr

Sadaqa Al-Fitr is a charitable donation linked directly to the month of Ramadan. One must make the donations in the days or hours just prior to the Eid Al-Fitr holiday prayer. This prayer occurs early on the first morning of Shawwal, the month following Ramadan.

Who Benefits From Sadaqa Al-Fitr

Sadaqa Al-Fitr is intended for members of the Muslim community who do not have enough to feed themselves and their family members. It is traditionally given directly to individuals in need. In some places, one may take the donation directly to a known needy family. In other places, the local mosque may collect all of the food donations for distribution to appropriate community members. It is recommended that the food be donated within one's local community. However, some Islamic charitable organizations accept cash donations which they use to purchase food for distribution in famine or disaster-affected regions.

 

Its payment in money

Al-Qaradawi explains why the Prophet appointed Sa` as the measure and did not prescribe it in money saying that in his opinion there are two reasons for this: First, money was still rare among the Arabs particularly the Bedouins. They did not have their own currency. So if the Prophet had prescribed it in money, he would have caused hardship to them. Second, the purchasing power of money changes from time to time. For instance, the purchasing power of a certain currency sometimes becomes low and other times high, so paying Zakat al-Fitr in money makes its value unstable. That is why the Prophet prescribed it with a stable measure, that is an amount of food which fulfils the needs of one family. For one Sa` provides a family with food for a whole day.

The Hanafis permitted the payment of Zakat al-Fitr in money. This is the view of Al-Thawri, Al-Hasan al-Basri, and `Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz. However, the other three schools did not permit this. Their argument is that the Prophet did not do so and hence its payment in money contradicts the Sunnah of the Prophet. But some contemporary scholars support the Hanafi view since this is easier nowadays for the payer particularly in cities where people use only money for dealings. Among them are Sheikh Shaltut, al-Ghazali, and al-Qaradawi[28] who mentioned earlier the two reasons for which the Prophet did not prescribe it in money. He also stated that the purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to fulfil the needs of the poor and this is achieved also by payment in money and that in most cases and most countries the payment in money is more useful to the poor.[29] He also mentioned that when the Prophet prescribed it from food, it was easy for the payer and useful for the recipient during that time. But nowadays to pay it in food is not useful for the poor because he cannot make use, for instance, of wheat or dates unless he sells them with any price, generally low, to buy his needs with the money.[30] 

Al-Qaradawi excluded the times of famines where the payment of food is more useful for the recipients and said that the criterion is the benefit of the poor so if food proves to be more useful as in times of famines and catastrophes, then its payment in kind is better. But if money is more useful, then its payment in money is better.[31] 

Nowadays, if we consider the condition in the Muslim world in general and that of Muslims in the West in particular we will discover that the second view is more convenient with the spirit of Islamic legislation and the present condition of Muslims. As we will see later when Muslims living in the West decide to transfer their Zakah funds or some of them to needy Muslims in Muslim countries, then the payment in money is more convenient. 
The required amount of zakat ul-fitr is one sa' of wheat, barley, raisins, dry cottage cheese (aqit), rice, corn, or similar items considered as basic foods (qut). Abu Hanifah made it permissible to set aside, as a zakat ul-fitr, an equivalent value and also said that if the payer pays in wheat, one-half of a sa' would be sufficient.
Sadaqah al-Fitr is one kilo 633 gram wheat or three kilo 266 gram barley- Allah knows Best! Darul Ifta,Darul Uloom Deoband (Fatwa: 955/966/H=10/1436). This is Indian rupees fifty on June,2017 per person of the family.

Fidya – for Old person, poor health


Fidya is payable by those who are unable to fast during the month of Ramadan for valid reasons (due to poor health etc.) Such a person must pay to feed a poor person (2 meals a day) for every day of fasting he/she misses. This is called Fidya.

Pay fidyah equal to one Sadaqah al-Fitr in return of each fast. Sadaqah al-Fitr is one kilo 633 gram wheat or three kilo 266 gram barley which should be paid to poor and needy ones.Darul Ifta,Darul Uloom Deoband (Fatwa: 955/966/H=10/1436)

Kafarah  

Kafarah is payable by those who intentionally don’t fast during Ramadan, without a valid reason. The compensation for each fast broken is to feed a person (2 meals a day) for 60 days. This is called Kafarah.
Alternatively such a person must fast for 60 consecutive days.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Waste water Treatment of BGP containing TAR


Tar Removal through Physical Processes Physical processes will continue to play a very important role for the successful commercial implementation of gasification. They constitute the basic arm for removing most of the raw gasifier contaminants, including “tar.” “Tar” is removed mainly through wet or wet-dry scrubbing. Coalescers, demisters, and cold filtration are also necessary supplements. These well-known commercial methods are easily designed and applied, depending on the specific needs of any gasification process. The main problem arising from “tar” scrubbing is that condensed “tar” components are merely transferred into another phase (water or solids such as scrubbing lime), which then has to be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner. The problems associated with the management of these wastewater or solid residues are summarized as follows: • “Tar” and “tar”-contaminated solid-waste streams are considered as a special waste; consequently, their disposal is usually cumbersome and costly. • “Tar”-bearing wastewater is usually a bi-phasic mixture requiring various steps of treatment before final disposal. Water insoluble “tar” skimming • Most water-soluble “tar” components are refractory to the usual biological wastewater treatments. The applied methods for “tar” and “tar”-containing waste streams include solid waste stabilization and landfilling, organic phase skimming off the bi-phasic wastewater-free surface, wastewater incineration, wet oxidation, adsorption on activated carbon, and final biological treatment. Wastewater contaminants include dissolved organics, inorganic acids, NH , and metals. 3 Typical values of COD, BOD, and phenols for wastewater from fixed-bed gasifiers are given in Hasler et al. (1997). The new BIOSYN design proposes a continuous skimming-off of insoluble “tar” from the surface of the wastewater. tar-containing wastewater was treated using lime and alum for the removal of in-organics, followed by adsorption on powdered activated carbon (PAC) for the removal of organics. At optimum concentrations, both lime and alum individually proved to be capable of removing color, total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS), but in both cases, pH adjustment had to be carried out after treatment. The combination of lime and alum at the dose ratio of 0.8:0.8 g/L was found to be optimum for the removal of inorganics. The removal efficiency achieved at optimum concentrations were 78.6, 62.0, 62.5 and 52.8% for color, alkalinity, TSS and TDS, respectively. Coagulation-precipitation followed by adsorption on PAC resulted in 92.3% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and 100% phenol removal at equilibrium. This technology may prove to be one of the fastest and most techno-economically feasible methods for the treatment of tar-containing wastewater generated from BGPs. biomass gasification plant.
The specific technical objectives of this study are: 1. Identify the optimum individual doses of lime and alum (coagulant) required to achieve the best treatment efficiency. 2. Identify the optimum and minimum dose of the coagulant-combination (lime and alum) required to achieve good treatment efficiency without having to conduct final pH adjustment. 3. Determine the efficiency of the coagulationflocculation process at optimum coagulant dosage followed by adsorption on powdered activated carbon (PAC). The iodine value of PAC was 1050 mg/g. The optimum dose of lime was found to be 0.8 g/L, with maximum removal efficiency for color, TSS and TDS, and minimum amount of sludge generation. The optimum dose of alum was observed to be 0.8 g/L with maximum TSS, TDS and minimum amount of sludge generation. However, the optimum dose of alum for maximum color removal was found to be 1.0 g/L. Lime was found to remove ammonia more efficiently than alum. In the lime-alum combination, lime:alum dose of 0.8:0.8 g/L was found to demonstrate maximum removal of TSS, TDS, alkalinity, and minimum amount of sludge generation. However, the lime:alum dose of 0.9:1.0 g/L provided maximum removal of color and ammonia. The coagulation-flocculation process was found to be more efficient for the removal of color, TDS, TSS and alkalinity than for the removal of COD and phenol.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFLUENT FROM BIOMASS GASIFICATION PLANT Parameter Unit Values pH -- 7.49 (±0.015) Color Co-Pt unit 1076.5 (±38.5) TDS mg/L 1875 (±75) TSS mg/L 82.5 (±2.5) Alkalinity (as CaCO3) mg/L 537.5 (±12.5) Ammonical Nitrogen mg/L 242.55 (±12.45) Nitrate nitrogen mg/L 0.62 (± 0.02) Phosphate (as PO4 3-) mg/L 0.12 (±0.03) CODtotal mg/L 3599.5 (±57.5) CODsoluble mg/L 3499.5 (±57.5) Phenol mg/L 465 (±10) Oil and Grease mg/L 36 (± 4.0) Note: Values in parenthesis are standard deviation