Eid'l Fitr 2009 (1430 AH)

For a record for this blog Eid'l Fitr 2009 (1430 AH) or 1st day of Shawwal was last September 20, 2009.

The moon was sighted last September 19 (night), then automatically September 20 was announced as day of Eid’l Fitr.

Belated Eid'l Fitr Al-Mubarak!!!

Eid Mubarak

Advance
HAPPY EID MUBARAK
TO ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IN ISLAM

Sunnat Prayers during the month of Ramadhan

During the month of Ramadhan, Sunnat salah or voluntary prayers were performed in addition to the Fard as-salat or Obligatory prayers. To mention, Fard as-salat are performed five times a day. Prayer times are Fajr (pre-dawn), Dhuhr (noon), 'Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset) and 'Isha (evening).

Sunnat prayers are optional and additional voluntary prayers. These are performed before and/or after Fard prayers. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) used to pray them (Sunnat prayers) regularly so it is highly recommended. At the time of Ramadhan, Sunnat prayers were performed. The Tarawih and Tahajjud.

Tarawih Prayer
Tarawih can only be performed during the fasting month of Ramadhan. This prayer can be performed alone, in a group, at home, or in a mosque or other public meeting area. It is performed after the Fard prayer of 'Isha.

Tahajjud Prayer
Tahajjud or "night prayer" is a voluntary prayer. Unlike Tarawih, Tahajjud can be done anytime between 'Isha and Fajr. It is best done between midnight to Fajr.

During Ramadhan, Tahajjud Prayer is done anytime after Tarawih. On the other hand, it is performed in Jamaa’ah (congregation) in a mosque during the 21st day of Ramadhan until Eid’l Fitr comes or for the last ten days of Ramadhan. It is performed on the 10 last days in order to witness the Lailatul-Qadr in the month of Ramadhan. Most of the scholars agreed that Lailatul-Qadr is at the 27th day of ramadhan. But their is no proof with us so every odd nights of last 10 days must be given importance during Ramadhan.

Salatul Tasbih Prayer
This is a four Rakaat prayer, aims to recite the below Tasbih in 300 times
"SUBHANALLAH, AL-HAMDULILAH, LAILAHAHILLAALLAH, ALLAHU AKBAR."

This can be performed everyday, but if you cannot then do it once a week, if you cannot than once every month, then if you cannot then once a year, if you cannot then once in a lifetime.

It is recommended to be performed during the potential nights of Lailatul-Qadr because of the amazing blessings during that blessed night as stated in the Qur’an itself.

Ameen

Muslim Prayer Mat

Every time Muslims performed a prayer, they are expected to do it in a clean place. Thus, traditionally Prayer Mats are use to ensure the cleanliness of their place of prayer.

A prayer mat is a fabric in a rectangular shape, in about one meter long or just enough for an adult to fit comfortably when kneeling or prostrating. Within the rectangle, you can usually find images of mosques and other Islamic landmarks and always have an arch design on them that point towards the direction of prayer.

The Arabic word for a prayer mat is "sajada". Sajada when in used, it is pointed in the direction of Makkah (Mecca), the holy city. Therefore All Muslims are required to know the direction Makkah from their home or where they are. To be certain on the direction, there are some prayer mats containing compass to find the direction of Makkah when praying.

After each prayer, prayer mats are immediately and carefully folded or rolled and placed in a clean area to ensure the cleanness of the mat.

Question and Answer about Islam

Assalamu Alaikum Wa rahmatullahi Wa barakatuh

UMSO will share Islamic information in a Question and Answer form, originally the questions were taken from the IslamiC City Quiz.

1. What is the Quran?
Answer: The word of Allah (s.w.t.)

2. What does Islam mean ?
Answer: Islam means to obey Allah (s.w.t.) and follow His commands

3. What is the language of the Quran?
Answer: Arabic

4. How long did it take to complete the revelation of the Quran?
Answer: 23 years

5. People who disobey Allah (s.w.t.) will be terribly punished by sending them to ..…
Answer: Hell

6. The house of Allah (s.w.t.) in Makkah is called ..…
Answer: Kaaba

7. What is the name of the book sent down to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)?
Answer: Al-Quran

8. Pillars of Islam are also called ...…
Answer: Arkanal Islam

9. What is the first duty of a Muslim?
Answer: Shahadah

10. One of the pillars of Islam is to share our wealth with the poor. What is this pillar called?
Answer: Zakat

11. What do you say when you sneeze?
Answer: Alhamdulillah

12. When is Fajr salat performed?
Answer: Dawn until sunrise

13. What do we call the meal taken before dawn in Ramadan?
Answer: Suhur

14. In the month of Ramadan, there is a night which is better than a 1,000 months. It is ...…
Answer: Lailatul-Qadr

15. The festival that comes during Hajj is .…
Answer: Eid'l Adha

16. What is Salat?
Answer: Praying

17. Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha are all ...... salat.
Answer: Fard

18. What is the purpose of Salat?
Answer: To remember Allah (s.w.t.)

19. A prophet is called .......... in Arabic.
Answer: Nabi

20. When was Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) born?
Answer: 571 C.E.

21. For how many years did Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) preach?
Answer: 23 years is right.

22. In which year did Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) become the prophet of Allah (s.w.t.)?
Answer: 610 C.E.

23. When is Witr salat offered?
Answer: After Isha

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Hope above are helpful for you...
SHUKRAN

Arabic Alphabets

Please watch the video and learn how to read the Arabic Alphabets:

Adhān

Adhan is the Islamic call to prayer recited by the muezzin (chosen person at the mosque to lead the adhan)

Adhan consists of eight repeated lines and seven standard elements; Arabic transliteration and English translation are the following:

[1]Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great
(repeated 4x)
[2]Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah
I bear witness that there is no god except the One God (Allah).
(repeated 2x)

[3]Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
(repeated 2x)

[4]Hayya 'ala-s-Salah
Hurry to the prayer (Rise up for prayer)
(repeated 2x)

[5]Hayya 'ala-l-Falah
Hurry to success (Rise up for Salvation)
(repeated 2x)

As-salatu Khayrun Minan-nawm
Prayer is better than sleep
(repeated 2x)
*For the pre-dawn (fajr) prayer and inserted after the fifth part above.

[6]Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great
(repeated 2x)

[7]La ilaha illa Allah
There is no god except the One God (Allah)

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Shukran

Islamic Holy Month of Ramadhan

Ramadhan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar (Hijri calendar; Lunar calendar). It is the month that Muslims observe the Fast of Ramadan. A fast held from sunrise to sunset, for 29 or 30 days.

Determining When Ramadhan Starts
Ramadhan begins with a combination of the sighting of the new moon and astronomical calculations. If it is visible it will be the signal for the beginning of the month of Ramadhan.

According to the Islamic Calendar, Ramadhan was scheduled to start on Saturday, 22nd August 2009. But then, sighting of the new moon is very important in proclaiming when Ramadhan starts.

Here in the Philippines, our Muslims Brothers looked for the moon last August 20, 2009 (Thursday Night) but the moon was not sighted. Thus, the Ramadhan 1430 (Ramadhan 2009) started last August 22, 2009. However, if the moon was sighted Thursday Night, then Ramadhan would have started the very next day, on August 21.

Fasting
Fasting during Ramadhan is obligatory. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam (Five Pillars of Islam: Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Fasting during Ramadhan and Hajj). Daily fasting starts from sunrise and ends when the sun sets. During this period Muslims are expected to abstain from eating and drinking completely. Fasting is also viewed as a means of controlling one's desires (of hunger, thirst, sexuality, anger, violence) and focusing more on giving thy self, faith and worship towards Allah..

Sahur
Muslims wake up early in the morning to prepare for the daily fast. Sahur, an Arabic term, refers to pre-dawn meal.The meal is eaten before the sun rises, and before the fajr or dawn prayer.

Iftar
The fast is broken at sunset. In Arabic it is called Iftar. Iftar, refers to the evening meal for breaking the daily fast during the Islamic month of Ramadhan. Traditionally, a date is the first thing to be consumed during Iftar when the fast is broken.

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Brothers and Sisters, if something is missing on the post, please address. UMSO blog is open for suggestions and corrections.
Shukran

Ramadhan 2008 Caravan

*Special thanks to our moderator; S. Ma. Luz dela Cruz for letting the UMSO used the school bus.

USMO Attended The ISMO - Dinner For A Cost