Ten Tips for Ramadan

As the blessed month of Ramadan approaches, we need to prepare for it in such a way that we can gain the maximum benefit of this month. For many, Ramadan comes and goes. However, very few people actually benefit from this great month. Our teachers advise us to live the whole year as if we are in the month of Ramadan. This magnanimous achievement can only be attained when the actual month of Ramadan is spent properly. In order to acquire a droplet of the reality mentioned above, Insha Allah, I hope to mention ten points that were given as form of advice to me and many others.

01-Discipline: Most people already know to abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from one’s spouse during the daytime of Ramadhan. However, a level of discipline must be developed to do righteous acts and abstain from those acts which would earn the displeasure of Allah. That was a basic form of discipline that needs to be developed but along with that, one needs to have discipline in following a particular routine or schedule for Ramadhan. This will be the real life changing factor for an individual. They wake up for suhoor but also pray Tahajjud at that time. Recite some Qur’an. They eat. Make dua’ while waiting for Salah. They pray Fajr. Recite Qur’an and make zikr. Rest if they need to.

The idea is to make a schedule and act accordingly the whole month without sacrificing their schedule. This is the desired discipline that is required.One may ask, “Why did he not just put the first point as a ‘making a schedule’?” Well, the answer is very simple. Anyone can come up with a schedule, but it takes real discipline to abide by it.

02-Devotional life (‘Ibadah): Ramadhan is the month where Allah allows us to really fulfill the purpose of our being, and the purpose of our creation. Allah created us all to worship Him, and Him alone. Here, I will not mention virtues of various acts or worship because those can be found in the many books on the merits of certain deeds. However, since Ramadhan and Qur’an are closely connected, I will say that much of our devotional life should be focused on the Qur’an.

Reciting at least the entire Qur’an once in this month. Understanding it from erudite scholarship of our community or from accepted commentaries and Tafaaseer. I am not asking that a person recites the entire Qur’an and completes one entire commentary of it in one month. Perhaps it may be feasible to recite the entire Qur’an and start off a regimen of a Tafseer and try to finish it on an annual basis.

03-Identifying with the Ummah: It is important that we feel our fast, i.e. feel hunger and thirst. Apart from that, we can use this to our benefit by making other people’s fast count for us as well. This means that if we feed or give to drink something to someone who fasts, we can get the reward of their fast as well.

Another aspect of identifying with the Ummah is to be grateful for whatever Allah has given us and realize that a little of that we need to give to others so that they may have a decent Ramadhan and wonderful ‘Eid. See what the Ummah is going through and see how we can actively participate to help the Ummah in any way possible.

04-Contact with the Qur’an: Ramadhan is the month wherein the Qur’an was revealed. This is the month of the Qur’an. It is extremely essential to establish a relationship with the Qur’an. Without going into much detail, I will just mention something practical with regards to the Qur’an and Ramadhan.

For the average person, i.e. one who is not scholar or is not a Hafiz, they should read at least one juz per day so that they finish at a minimum one entire Qur’an for the month of Ramadhan. If one can do more, than Alhamdulillah, no one is stopping anyone. The next thing is to understand the Qur’an. So take the first volume of Ma’ariful Qur’an (for example) and read one section of the Arabic part (if one can) and then read the translation, then read the commentary. Do this every day without fail. Obviously the whole commentary will not be completed in one month, but at least a schedule to read a portion regularly will be developed and hopefully within a year it could be completed.

Also, one should try to memorize those chapters/surahs which are read often like Mulk, Kahf, Ya Seen, Waqi’ah, and Sajdah. Also memorize Surahs from the last juz at least and more if possible.

05-Mujahadah: Ramadhan is a month of sacrifice and struggle. It is a month where Allah wants our time, our health, our wealth, and our whole being. We literally live the whole year for everything and anything. It is just one month…can we not live one month solely for our Creator?! So what if we have to sacrifice our sleep, and random other luxuries that we can do without anyway. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.” The amount of sacrifice and struggle we put into this month, Allah will reward us in this world and the next accordingly. Give yourself to Allah, and see what Allah has in store for you.

06-Dua’: The essence of worship is supplication to Allah. This whole month, Allah is willing and readily open to accept all that we ask of Him. It is only to our own loss and detriment that we lack in begging Allah for the things we need. Prioritize your supplications. Ask firstly for yourself, then your family, community, then the Ummah at large. Within that, prioritize and ask for things pertaining to the hereafter, then ask for things pertaining to this world. Just remember one thing when it comes to dua’, the point of dua’ is not that we need something or we need protection or refuge from some other thing, the point is that Allah told us to supplicate to Him, and that is why one should make dua’ abundantly. There are certain things Allah loves to do, and one of them is to answer the supplications of His servants who call unto Him.

One final aspect regarding dua’ is crying or pretending to cry. Tears are something foreign to Allah and therefore He has immense value for tears. The whole year we become filthy and impure spiritually by sinning, Ramadhan is the month where we purify our spirits by bathing our spirits in our tears.

07-Good Company: Ramadhan is a month to maximize on good deeds and keep bad deeds at zero. Being in the company of the righteous will allow one to attain this goal. I will keep this point short. The minimum benefit one gets by being in good company is that one will not sin which in turn will cause one to become the greatest worshiper based off the hadith of Tirmidhiwherein Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) took Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu)’s hand and said, “O Abu Hurayrah, abstain from all prohibitions and you will become the best worshiper.”

The maximum benefit is that being with the people of Allah, Insha Allah; a person may just Attain Allah. What can be greater?!

08-Gratitude: The secret to an increase in anything is to be thankful for it. To make sure that we see this month the next year, appreciate it this year. Be thankful for all that we have in every aspect, even the basic things we neglect and take for granted. We have Iman, we have Islam. Alhamdulillah, we are the best Ummah. We have been given the best book, i.e. the Qur’an. The best way to appreciate a bounty is to use it for its purpose.

Allah has blessed with infinite blessing and bounties. Ramadhan is one of those bounties, so to fully appreciate Ramadhan, we must spend it the way Allah would like us to spend it and attain out goal which is Taqwa.

09-Following the Sunnah: Anything of the beloved is also beloved. That is a principle of love. Allah has proclaimed the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) as His beloved. If we follow the Sunnah and show a resemblance, then we can also gain the focus of Allah. Particularly follow the Sunnah acts which the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) performed in Ramadhan.

If we have to do something, might as well do it the best way possible. The best way for anything to be done is the way of the Sunnah. If by any chance it was some other way, Allah would have had His Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) do it that way then.

10-Istiqamah: Imam Junayd Al-Baghdadi (RA) said, “Steadfastness is greater than a thousand miracles.” Please do not tire one’s self out in the initial stages of Ramadhan, rather figure out a routine that works and stick to it regularly. The most beloved of actions to Allah are those that are done consistently even though they may seem minor. We all need to be thankful for the good that we have done and also for the evil we are able to abstain from. We also need to be thankful for whatever level of steadfastness that we have. We want to make Ramadhan last beyond Ramadhan as well. I’ll end with a quote from one of our mashaaikh, Shaykh In’aam-ul-Hasan Kandehlawi (RA) said, “Whoever lives their life as they do in Ramadhan, then death will come to that person just as the moon of ‘Eid comes for the fasting person.”

To conclude, we pray to Allah that He accepts all of our efforts and overlooks and forgives all of our shortcomings. Aameen.

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Eid at Northern Illinois University, USA in 1985

While reading posts in a facebook group, I found this old photo of me way back in 1985 listening to Eid sermon (khutbah) held outdoor at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, USA.    That's 9,274 miles / 14,925.06 km from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In 1988/1989, I was entrusted with the post of the Vice President of Islamic Society of NIU. Through donation, we bought a house for USD90,000 at Normal Road and used it as a Muslim House (mini-masjid), where we perform daily prayers and Friday prayers etc. I delivered Friday khutbah (sermons) several times in English and Arabic of course.  Currently, Muslim sisters and brothers in DeKalb are planning to build a 'fully-fledged' mosque next to the current Muslim House. Hope I will have a chance to visit this place again, insyaAllah.

In first photo, I was sitting in the third row, leftmost (in light blue Malay dress wearing songkok). In the second photo, in the fifth row.  That was 28 years ago...such a wonderful memory.  
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Menuju Qolbun Salim (Hati Yang Bersih)

Qolbun salim berasal dari dua kata bahasa Arab, yaitu qolbun (hati) dan salim (bersih, suci dan lurus). Jika kedua kata ini digabungkan, maka akan membentuk arti ‘hati yang lurus, bersih, suci dan ikhlas dalam segala gerak, fikiran, perasaan, perbuatan dan lain sebagainya hanya kepada Allah SWT. Dalam Al-Qur’an, Allah menyebut istilah qolbun salim sebanyak dua kali. Dan keduanya menggambarkan tentang hatinya nabi Ibrahim as. :

1. Dalam QS. 26 : 87 – 89

وَلاَ تُخْزِنِي يَوْمَ يُبْعَثُونَ * يَوْمَ لاَ يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلاَ بَنُونَ* إِلاَّ مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ*

“Dan janganlah Engkau hinakan aku pada hari mereka dibangkitkan, (yaitu) di hari harta dan anak-anak laki-laki tidak berguna, kecuali orang-orang yang menghadap Allah dengan hati yang bersih.”

2. Dalam QS. 37 : 83 – 85

وَإِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لإِبْرَاهِيمَ* إِذْ جَاءَ رَبَّهُ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ* إِذْ قَالَ لأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ*

“Dan sesungguhnya Ibrahim benar-benar termasuk golongannya (Nuh). (Ingatlah) ketika ia datang kepada Tuhannya dengan hati yang suci. (Ingatlah) ketika ia berkata kepada bapaknya dan kaumnya: "Apakah yang kamu sembah itu?”

Jika kita renungkan, sebenarnya Allah SWT menginginkan agar seluruh hamba-hamba-Nya dapat memiliki hati yang bersih, yang dapat mengantarkan mereka pada surga Allah SWT, sekligus untuk menyempurnakan segala kenikmatan yang diberikan kepada seluruh hamba-hamba-Nya. Dan untuk menyucikan hati manusia, Allah menurunkan Al-Qur’an (agama Islam), guna dijadikan pedoman hidup manusia: (QS. 5 : 6)

مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَكِنْ يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ*

“Allah tidak hendak menyulitkan kamu, tetapi Dia hendak membersihkan kamu dan menyempurnakan ni`mat-Nya bagimu, supaya kamu bersyukur.”

Namun untuk memiliki hati yang bersih, kita terlebih dahulu harus mengetahui seluk beluk hati manusia, sifat-sifatnya dan juga godaan-godaan yang dapat menghanyutkannya. Hati ini merupakan sentral jiwa manusia, yang apabila hatinya baik, maka insya Allah akan baik pula seluruh tubuhnya, dan jika hatinya buruk, maka akan buruk pula seluruh tubuhnya. Dalam sebuah hadits yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Bukhari dan Muslim, dari Abdullah bin Nu’man ra, Rasulullah SAW bersabda:

أَلاَ وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ أَلاَ وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ

“…ketahuilah bahawa dalam jasad itu terdapat segumpal darah, yang apabila ia baik maka baik pula seluruh jasadnya. Dan apabila ia rosak, maka rosak pula seluruh jasadnya. Ketahuilah bahawa segumpal darah tersebut adalah hati. (HR. Bukhari Muslim)

Dari hadits di atas kita dapat memetik satu kesimpulan, yaitu bahwa hati ternyata laksana nahkoda sebuah bahtera. Dimana arah tujuan dari bahtera tersebut sangat ditentukan oleh sang nahkoda. Jika nahkodanya memiliki niatan dan tujuan yang baik, insya Allah akan membawa bahtera tersebut ke arah yang baik. Sebaliknya, jika ia memiliki tujuan yang jahat, maka secara otomatis kapal tersebut sedang berjalan ke arah yang negatif. Oleh karena itulah sangat penting bagi kita memiliki hati yang bersih guna menjadikan kehidupan kita benar-benar sedang melaju ke arah yang baik, yaitu keridhaan Allah SWT.

Imam al-Ghazali mengungkapkan, “bahwa hati merupakan sesuatu yang paling berharga dalam diri manusia. Karena dengan hatilah, seseorang mampu mengenal Allah, beramal untuk mengharapkan ridha-Nya dan juga guna mendekatkan diri kepada-Nya. Sedangkan jasad pada hakekatnya hanyalah menjadi pelayan dan pengikut hati, sebagaimana seorang pelayan terhadap tuannya.”

Oleh kerena itulah terdapat sebuah ungkapan, bahwa siapa yang mengenal hatinya maka ia akan mengenal Rabbnya. Namun disayangkan, karena betapa banyaknya manusia yang tidak mengenal hatinya sendiri. Lalu Allah menjadikannya seolah dirinya terpisah dari hatinya. Pemisahan ini dapat berbentuk penghalang untuk mengenal dan bermuroqobatullah (selalu dalam pengawasan Allah). Dan atas dasar hal inilah, banyak ulama yang menjadikan ma’rifatul qolb sebagai dasar dan pedoman bagi orang-orang saleh yang ingin lebih mendekatkan dirinya kepada Allah.

Namun ternyata banyak rintangan untuk mendekatkan hati kepada Sang Pencipta. Karena godaan syaitan sangat luar biasa terhadap diri manusia. Imam Al-Ghazali menggambarkannya dengan sebuah benteng yang dikepung oleh musuh yang berambisi memasuki dan menguasainya. Benteng tersebut sudah barang tentu harus dijaga pintu-pintunya, guna menghindari desakan musuh yang bergerak menyerbunya. Namun orang yang tidak mengetahui pintu-pintunya sudah barang tentu tidak dapat menjaganya. Maka demikian juga halnya dengan hati. Seseorang tidak mungkin dapat menjaganya bahkan juga mengusir syaitan yang menyerangnya melainkan dengan mengetahui pintu-pintu yang terdapat dalam hatinya tersebut. Pintu-pintu yang dapat dimasuki syaitan diantaranya adalah:

• Iri hati
• Dengki
• Ambisi
• Emosi
• Hawa nafsu (kemaksiatan)
• Kemegahan (bermewah-mewah)
• Cinta (lawan jenis)
• Kesombongan
• Ketergesaan, dsb.

Dalam perumpamaan lain, syaitan itu digambarkan seperti seekor anjing lapar yang mendekati seorang insan. Jika ia tidak memegang suatu makanan seperti daging atau roti, maka akan dengan mudah mengusir anjing ini. Namun jika dalam genggaman tangannya terdapat daging, roti dan makanan lainnya, maka akan lebih sulit mengusir anjing tersebut. Perlu adanya kekuatan ekstra guna mengusirnya, dengan kekuatan tangan, kaki atau kayu dan tongkat, barulah ia dapat mengusir anjing itu. Demikian pula dengan hati yang dikuasai hawa nafsu serta jauh dari dzikrullah. Sudah barang tentu ia menjadi mangsa para syaitan yang kelaparan. Dan untuk mengusirnya juga diperlukan tenaga ekstra, berbeda dengan hati yang hampa dari nafsu…

Inilah sensitifas hati seorang insan, yang ternyata sangat rentan akan godaan. Oleh karenanya tidak heran, jika Rasulullah SAW sering mengungkapkan doa yang cukup masyhur;

يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوْبِ ثَبِّتْ قُلُوْبَنَا عَلَى دِيْنِكَ، وَيَا مُصَرِّفَ الْقُلُوْبِ صَرِّفْ قُلُوْبَنَا عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ

“Wahai Pembolak balik hati, tetapkanlah hati kami dalam agama-Mu. Wahai Pemutar balik hati, tetapkanlah hati kami untuk taat kepada-Mu.”

Beliau yang telah di jamin dapat menapakkan kakinya dalam surga, masih dengan khusyu’nya memanjatkan irama doa yang indah. Maka sebagai umat dan pengikutnya, memanjatkan doa guna kelurusan hati merupakan hal yang seyogyanya mendapatkan prioritas. Marilah sejenak kita meninggalkan berbagai keegoisan hati dalam diri kita, baik politik, golongan, jabatan, kekayaan dan sebagainya. Guna memasrahkan jiwa dan raga yang ternyata sangat kecil dan tiada memiliki daya apapun juga di hadapan Yang Maha Perkasa. Paling tidak dalam bulan suci ramadhan ini, agar rajut-rajut ukhuwah yang sempat terkoyak dapat tersulami kembali. Kemudian apapun yang muncul dari hati kita dapat kita ukur dengan pembagian para ulama terhadap hati manusia:

1. Pertama, hati yang dihiasi dengan nilai ketaqwaan, dzikir, pembersihan jiwa dan muraqabatullah (sikap hati yang selalu merasa berada dalam pengawasan Allah). Hati seperti ini, insya Allah dapat menangkal segala sifat tidak terpuji. Hati seperti ini sering juga disebut dengan hati yang bersih (Qolbun Salim).
2. Kedua, hati yang berlumurah hawa nafsu, terselimuti sifat-sifat tercela. Hati seperti inilah yang kerap kali menjadi mangsa syaitan untuk mengobrak abrik sedikit saja sinar terang yang terdapat di dalamnya. Hati akan lambat laun akan menjadi kelam, seperti malam yang tidak berbulan.
3. Ketiga, hati yang memiliki potensi mengikuti hawa nafsu, namun juga masih terdapat jeritan keimanan untuk berbuat kebaikan. Ia berada diantara kebaikan dan keburukan, walaupun pada akhirnya ia harus menentukan pilihan; hitam atau putih.

Sebagai hamba Allah, hendaknya kita memohon dan memasrahkan hati kita kepada Allah, agar hati ini terhindar dari goresan-goresan kemunafikan menuju keikhlasan-Nya yang abadi. Wahai manusia, wahai diri kita, wahai para pemimpin-pemimpin bangsa, marilah kita kembali mengenali hati kita beserta sensitifitasnya, agar kita dapat memiliki hati yang suci (Qolbun salim), sebagai mana nabi Muhammad dan Nabi Ibrahim serta para nabi-nabi lainnya. … Amin.

Wallahu A’lam bis Shawab.
By. Rikza Maulan, Lc., M.Ag.

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Group photo while studying at NIU, USA (around 1984/1985)

This picture was taken about 28 years ago at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA.

It's me sitting in first row (third from left), in light blue Malay dress (baju Melayu). I can recognize almost everyone in the photo, the Malaysian and Arab brothers...now they are professors, director general, ceo, engineers, consultants, MP (ex), entrepreneurs and other important posts in Malaysia and overseas. I think this photo was taken in 1984 or 1985 during Eid. Some students had to sit for exam or attend class on that day, because Eid was not a holiday in USA.

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Collection of Hadith: Ramadan

Narrated by Abu Said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying, "Indeed, anyone who fasts for one day for Allah's pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years." [Bukhari Hadith 93 Volume 4, Book 52]

Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: Allah the Majestic and Exalted said: "Every deed of man will receive ten to 700 times reward, except Siyam (fasting), for it is for Me and I shall reward it (as I like). There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he breaks the fast and the other when he will meet his Lord" (Muslim).

Narrated by Abu Said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying, "Indeed, anyone who fasts for one day for Allah's pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years." [Bukhari Hadith 93 Volume 4, Book 52]


Abu Hurayrah r.a. narrated that Prophet Muhammad s.a.w said: "Ramadan, a blessed month, has come to you during which Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of al-Jahim are locked, and the rebellious devils are chained. In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of its good has indeed suffered deprivation." (Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi)


“There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection"[Sahih Bukhari]


Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said: “Fasting is a shield; it will protect you from the hellfire and prevent you from sins.” (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 3)

Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he could not make up for it (Bukhari)

Whoever observes the Ramadan fast and follows it with six days of fast in Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted Dahr (the whole year)." [Bukhari]

Abu Umaamah R.A.A. said: 

I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (saw), tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise'. He said: 'Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it.' - [Imam Nasai’, Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Haakim, Saheeh]

When to start fasting:

Ibn Umar related that the Prophet s.a.w said: "Do not start fasting unless you see the new moon, and do not end fasting until you see it. If the weather is cloudy then calculate when it should appear." (Bukhari, Muslim)



The Suhoor meal (which is eaten before dawn):

"Sahur is full of blessings, so do not miss it even if you drink just a sip of water." [Musnad Imam Ahmad, Vol. 4, Page 88, Hadith 11396]

Anas related that Rasulullah s.a.w said: Take the Suhoor meal, for there is blessing in it (Bukhari, Muslim)

Eat Sahur to gain strength for fast & take rest in afternoon to gain strength for worshiping at night. [Ibn Majah, V2, P321, Hadith 1693]

Breaking your fast:
Salman ibn Amir Dhabi r.a related that the Prophet s.a.w said: Break your fast with dates, or else with water, for it is pure (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

Fasting during a journey:
Aisha r.a related that Rasulullah s.a.w was asked whether one should fast when on a journey, and he replied: Fast if you like, or postpone it if you like (Bukhari, Muslim)

Behaviour while fasting:
Abu Hurairah r.a related that the Prophet s.a.w said: "If a person does not avoid false talk and false conduct during Siyam (fasting), then Allah does not care if he abstains from food and drink." (Bukhari, Muslim)


Forgetfully eating or drinking while fasting:
Abu Hurairah r.a related that Rasulullah s.a.w said: If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his Siyam, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink (Bukhari, Muslim)


Providing for those who are breaking the fast:
Zaid ibn Khalid Juhni r.a related that the Prophet s.a.w said: "He who provides for the breaking of the Siyam (fasting) of another person earns the same merit as the one who was observing Siyam (fasting) without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter." (Tirmidhi)


Lailat al-Qadr:
Aisha r.a related that the Prophet s.a.w said: "Look for Lailat al-Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan." (Bukhari)

Zakat al-Fitr

Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made zakat al-fitr obligatory as a means of purifying the fasting person from idle talk and foul language, and to feed the poor. Whoever pays it before the (Eid) prayer, it is an accepted zakat, and whoever pays it after the (Eid) prayer, it is just a kind of charity (sadaqah).” (Reported by Abu Dawood, 1371. Al-Nawawi said: Abu Dawood reported it from Ibn ‘Abbaas with a hasan isnaad).

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Koleksi Hadis: Ramadan

Dari Jabir RA bahwa Nabi SAW bersabda: ‘Puasa itu perisai yang dipergunakan seorang hamba untuk membentengi dirinya dari siksaan neraka.’ (HR Ahmad)

Rasulullah SAW bersabda :
 خمس يفطرن الصائم الكدب والغيبة والنميمة واليمين الكاذبة والنظر بشهوة 
“Lima hal yang merusak orang puasa, yaitu bohong, gosip, mengadu domba, sumpah palsu dan melihat dengan syahwat.”

Diriwayatkan daripada Abu Hurairah RA katanya: Rasulullah SAW bersabda: "Apabila seseorang daripada kamu sedang berpuasa pada suatu hari, janganlah bercakap tentang perkara yang keji dan kotor. Apabila dia dicaci maki atau diajak berkelahi oleh seseorang, hendaklah dia berkata: Sesungguhnya hari ini aku berpuasa, sesungguhnya hari ini aku berpuasa."

Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda yang maksudnya: “Berapa banyak orang yang berpuasa tetapi dia tidak mendapat apa-apa dari puasanya kecuali hanya lapar dan dahaga.” (Riwayat Ibnu Majah)

Dari Abu Hurairah r.a. bahawa Nabi s.a.w. bersabda; “Sesiapa yang berpuasa Ramadhan dengan penuh keimanan dan pengharapan, akan diampunkan segala dosa-dosanya yang terdahulu.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Dari Abu Hurairah ra katanya : "Rasulullah saw bersabda :"Apabila seseorang kamu berpuasa sejak pagi pada suatu hari, janganlah ia bercakap kotor dan jangan membuat kesalahan. Kalau ada orang yang memakinya atau hendak membunuhnya hendaklah dia mengucapkan "Sesungguhnya saya orang puasa sesungguhnya saya orang puasa" (Hadis sahih riwayat Muslim)

Daripada Sahal bin Said r.a. bahawa Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda: “Orang yang menyegerakan berbuka puasa setelah masuk waktunya akan mendapat kebaikan yang berterusan”. (HR al-Bukhari dan Muslim)

Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda yang maksudnya: “Berapa ramai orang yang berpuasa tetapi dia tidak mendapat apa-apa dari puasanya kecuali hanya lapar dan dahaga.” (Riwayat Ibnu Majah)


Daripada Muaz bin Jabal r.a Nabi saw bersabda ” Tidakkah kamu mahu aku tunjukkan kepada kamu pintu kebaikan : Puasa adalah pelindung, sedekah memadam kesilapan seperti air memadam api, dan seorang insan solat pada penghujung malam. (Riwayat Tarmizi dan Ahmad)


Rasulullah SAW yang maksudnya : Apabila telah tiba Ramadan, dibuka pintu-pintu syurga dan ditutup semua pintu neraka dan diikat semua syaitan.(HR Imam Bukhari, Muslim, Nasai’e, Ahmad dan Baihaqi)


Ibn Umar r.a. berkata: Ada beberapa sahabat Nabi saw. telah diperlihatkan Lailatul Kadar dalam mimpi di malam dua puluh tujuh, maka Nabi saw. bersabda: Aku perhatikan impianmu bertepatan dalam malam dua puluh tujuh, maka siapa berusaha untuk mendapatkannya hendaknya berusaha mencarinya pada malam dua puluh tujuh Ramadhan. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Diriwayatkan daripada Zaid bin Khalid al-Juhaniy r.a katanya: Rasulullah s.a.w bersabda: "Sesiapa yang menjemput orang yang berpuasa untuk berbuka, dia akan mendapat pahala sebagaimana pahala orang yang berpuasa itu tanpa mengurangkan sedikitpun pahala orang yang berpuasa tersebut." (Hadis riwayat Imam Tirmizi)


"Puasa dan al-Quran akan memberi syafaat kepada seseorang hamba pada hari kiamat." (Hadis riwayat Imam Ahmad)


Sabda Rasulullah s.a.w: "Apabila telah tiba Ramadan, dibuka pintu-pintu syurga dan ditutup semua pintu neraka dan diikat semua syaitan." (HR Imam Bukhari, Muslim, Nasai’e, Ahmad dan Baihaqi)


Sabda Rasulullah s.a.w: "Barangsiapa memberi makan kepada orang yang berbuka puasa maka dia memperoleh pahalanya, dan pahala bagi yang (menerima makanan) berpuasa tidak dikurangi sedikitpun." (HR Tirmidzi)


Nabi Muhammad s.a.w bersabda: "Tiga doa yang sangat mustajab iaitu doa orang yang berpuasa, doa orang yang dizalimi dan doa orang yang musafir." (Riwayat Ahmad, Bukhari,Abu Daud &al-Tarmizi)

"Sesiapa berbuka satu hari pada bulan Ramadhan tanpa ada rukhshah (keringanan) dan tidak juga kerana sakit, dia tidak akan dapat melunas (mengganti) puasa yang ditinggalkannya itu, sekalipun dia berpuasa seumur hidup." (Hadis riwayat Tirmidzi, Abu Daud, Nasa'i, Ibnu Majah dan Ibnu Khuzaimah)

Nabi Muhammad s.a.w bersabda: “Sesiapa berpuasa pada Ramadan, kemudian diiringi dengan (puasa) enam hari Syawal, maka dia seperti berpuasa satu tahun penuh.” (Riwayat Muslim)

Ditanya kepada Rasulullah, "Adakah ia lailatur Qadar?" Baginda menjawab, "Tidak! Tetapi seorang pekerja yang diberikan ganjarannya apabila telah selesai kerjanya." (Riwayat Imam Ahmad)


Sabda Rasulullah s.a.w: "Sesungguhnya syaitan masuk ke dalam tubuh bani Adam melalui pembuluh darah.  Maka persempitlah pembuluh darahnya dengan lapar dan puasa." (HR Muslim)

Solat 5 waktu, dan solat Jumaat ke Jumaat berikutnya, dan bulan Ramadhan ke bulan Ramadhan yang berikutnya adalah menjadi penebus dosa yang terjadi di antara waktu-waktu tadi, selama orang itu menjauhi dosa-dosa besar. (Muslim)

Daripada Abu Hurairah r.a., Rasulullah s.a.w. telah bersabda, "Umatku telah diberikan dalam Ramadhan lima perkara yang belum bernah diberikan kepada mana-mana umat pun sebelum mereka."

1. Bau busuk mulut orang berpuasa lebih harum di sisi Allah daripada bau kasturi.

2. Ikan-ikan di laut akan beristigfar untuk mereka sehingga mereka berbuka.

3. Setiap hari Allah s.w.t. akan menghiaskan syurgaNya dan berkata, "Telah hampir masanya hamba-hambaKu yang soleh akan dilepaskan dari beban-beban dan mereka akan datang kepadamu."

4. Dirantaikan syaitan-syaitan yang jahat di dalam Ramadhan dan mereka tidak akan dapat berbuat sesuatu dalam Ramadhan ini apa yang biasa mereka lakukan pada bulan lain.

5. Mereka akan diampunkan pada malam terakhir Ramadhan. 

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Consultant-Speaker-Motivator: www.ahmad-sanusi-husain.com 

Alfalah Consulting - Kuala Lumpur : www.alfalahconsulting.com

Islamic Investment Malaysia: www.islamic-invest-malaysia.com

Pelaburan Unit Amanah Islam: www.unit-amanah-islam.com

Delivered a 1-Day Lecture on Islamic Finance at UiTM (MARA Institute of Technology) Perlis

Delivered a 1-Day Lecture on Islamic Finance at UiTM (MARA Institute of Technology) Perlis in the Royal Town of Arau on Friday, 8 June 2012.

Attended by about 60 students and lecturers. Talked about the latest issues and development, new product innovations in Islamic banking and wealth management, differences between Islamic and conventional finance, advantages and prospects of Islamic banking in Malaysia and globally.

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Consultant/Trainer/CEO : www.ahmad-sanusi-husain.com  
Alfalah Consulting KL : www.alfalahconsulting.com 
Islamic Investment M'sia : www.islamic-invest-malaysia.com

Words of wisdom: Knowledge

Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.


"Knowledge is like a fruit. When a fruit grows on a branch of a tree, its weight causes that branch to bend and bow. Similarly, when knowledge increases in a person, it causes him to become humble and not Mutakabbir (proud and boastful)."





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Consultant/Trainer/CEO : www.ahmad-sanusi-husain.com
Alfalah Consulting KL : www.alfalahconsulting.com
Islamic Investment M'sia : www.islamic-invest-malaysia.com

Principal trainer for Syariah Certification Program (Advanced) for staff of RHB Islamic Bank

Delivered lecture as the principal trainer in the Syariah Certification Program (Advanced Level) for staff of RHB Islamic Bank held on 28-29 May 2012 at RHB Training Centre in Bangi Selangor.

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Consultant/Trainer/CEO : www.ahmad-sanusi-husain.com
Alfalah Consulting KL : www.alfalahconsulting.com
Islamic Investment M'sia : www.islamic-invest-malaysia.com

Gathering of ex-Bank Islam Malaysia staff in Kuala Lumpur on 15 May 2012

Gathering of ex-Bank Islam Malaysia staff at MCOBA Building in Kuala Lumpur on 15 May 2012 (luncheon). I'm standing behind the former 2nd Managing Director of BIMB, Dato' Ahmad Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (wearing songkok). Some are working in various senior capacities in Islamic banks and corporations, some are enjoying their retirement life. It was a great gathering and networking... silaturrahim. We are brothers and sisters in Islam, keeping in touch with each other.

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Consultant/Trainer/CEO : www.ahmad-sanusi-husain.com  
Alfalah Consulting KL : www.alfalahconsulting.com 
Islamic Investment M'sia : www.islamic-invest-malaysia.com